Jake Fernandes (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 2 minutes ago
A 25-year-old who rode a high-powered electric bike into a plain-clothes officer trying to stop him in Caerau has been jailed for 21 months.
According to BBC Wales, Jake Fernandes, of Caerau, appeared by video link from HMP Cardiff to be sentenced for five offences: dangerous driving of a Sur-Ron e-bike, driving without insurance, driving without a licence, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and being involved in cannabis production.
The collision
Officers were out in plain clothes on Amroth Road at around 8.30pm on 11 August as part of an operation South Wales Police said was a response to “community concerns about the illegal and anti-social use of high-powered electric bikes”.
Prosecutor Tim Lewis told the court Fernandes “appeared to taunt” the officers before attempting to ride off. PC Hamer stepped into the road to stop him and was struck by the bike.
Fernandes tried to get away after the crash but was arrested by officers.
PC Hamer’s injuries were not serious but “resulted in hospital treatment”, Lewis said. The judge was shown photographs of cuts and bruising to the officer’s elbow, legs and head.
What officers found
A search of Fernandes turned up 40 snap bags of cannabis, £735 in cash and a phone. When officers went to his home address they found what was described as the “remainder of a cannabis production factory”. His bike, the cannabis and the cash were all seized.
Sentencing
Recorder Robin Rouch said he had to weigh the fact that Fernandes had clearly tried to “evade the arrest” and, in doing so, an officer had been “hit with some force”.
“It is fortunate that the injuries are not more serious and that’s more luck than judgement,” he said.
The judge accepted Fernandes “did not deliberately drive at the officer” and gave him credit for pleading guilty at an early stage, but added: “in any event you should not have been on the bike on the road”.
Fernandes will serve at least 40% of the 21-month sentence in custody. He was also banned from driving for 21 months and must pass an advanced re-test before he can drive again.
