Boy, 17, charged with dangerously riding e-bike

A teenage boy has been charged in connection with dangerously riding an e-bike in Chichester.

It follows an incident in East Street around 1pm on Boxing Day, when two people were witnessed riding the vehicles through the city centre.

Members of the public intervened and helped to detain one of the riders – a 17-year-boy from Chichester – and he was subsequently arrested for the following offences:

• Assault by Beating;
• Causing harassment, alarm or distress;
• Dangerous driving;
• Driving without a licence;
• Driving without insurance;
• Driving without a valid MOT;
• Affray;
• Resisting arrest;
• Shoplifting.

He has been released on bail, with a number of strict conditions, until 23 March as enquiries continue.

A second 17-year-old boy, from Chichester, made off from the scene but was identified and later arrested. He has since been charged with the following offences:

• Dangerous driving;
• Affray;
• Driving without insurance;
• Driving without a licence;
• Possession of a bladed article in public.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 January, where he was released on conditional bail with strict conditions – including a curfew – to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 16 January.

Neither of the boys can be identified for legal reasons.

Two e-bikes and a number of bladed articles were seized in connection with the incident.

We’d like to thank the numerous members of public who assisted at the scene, and those who have provided witness statements.

We’d also like to reassure the community that we take reports of this nature extremely seriously, and we would encourage anyone who witnesses any similar incidents to contact us.