Motorbike rider convicted for perverting the course of justice

A motorcycle rider claimed his vehicle had been stolen after walking away from the scene of a collision in Worthing.

Officers were called to a collision involving a Mercedes and a Honda CBR 125 motorcycle in South Farm Road at about 11pm on February 9.

The rider, accompanied by a pillion passenger, crashed and left the scene without leaving any details.

Police attended the address of George Argent, the registered keeper, who denied being the rider at the time of the collision and reported his motorcycle as being stolen.

Argent maintained his innocence and was later arrested.

That was despite officers seeing him with a visible injury and witnesses who saw him at the scene.

His mobile phones were examined and messages revealed he had admitted being the rider to several people.

A witness was later able to identify Argent at an identity parade.

But despite being given the opportunity to tell the truth, he maintained he was not the rider.

His phone was examined, and messages revealed he had admitted  being the rider to several people.

Argent, 18, of Tower Road, Lancing, was charged with perverting the course of justice, driving without valid insurance, and failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision.

He appeared before Lewes Crown Court on November 8 where he admitted the charges.

The court ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) sessions as part of a 22-week suspended prison sentence.

Argent was disqualified from driving for one year.

PC Tom Van Der Wee, from the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Argent was given every possible opportunity to tell the truth but continually lied.

"He thought he could outsmart us with a deliberately complex story and bragged about this to his friends over text messages - ironically messages we ended up using as evidence.

He went to great lengths to try to avoid being prosecuted for his involvement in the collision, which meant we had to carry out a number of enquiries which included organising two identity parades, checking CCTV and analysing his mobile phones.

"We will always relentlessly pursue those who attempt to deceive the police and the courts.

"The offence of perverting the course of justice is extremely serious and can carry up a penalty of imprisonment, so Argent is extremely lucky to not be spending this Christmas behind bars.

"I just hope he now goes on to make more positive life choices. I’d like to thank the witnesses who came forward and gave their time to assist us with our investigation."