TV cycling show host hit police car in 23mph chase
A TV cycling show presenter drunkenly ploughed into a police car during a 23mph chase on his bicycle.
Richard Cunynghame led officers on an erratic pursuit after an argument with a cabbie in Chelsea, south-west London.
The professional cyclist, who works on ITV4’s The Cycle Show, was only stopped when he crashed into the police car as it pulled in front of him.
Yesterday Cunynghame, who pleaded not guilty, was handed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £640 in costs.
The bizarre chase took place after Cunynghame, 36, travelled to the capital for a meeting before having dinner in Soho in March.
The cyclist insisted he only had two glasses of wine but admitted not putting his lights back on his bike.
City of London magistrates’ court was told police intervened when he rode off at speed after a heated row with a taxi driver he accused of trying to drive into him.
Prosecutor Angela O’Dwyer said the officer was ‘concerned’ about his cycling and put the car’s blue lights and siren on. She said: ‘But the defendant did not stop and in fact speeded up, whereupon the police officers followed in their vehicle with their lights and sirens still on.
‘They overtook the defendant and pulled into the road in front of him.
‘The defendant had ample time to pull over himself – in fact he rode into the police car, causing some damage to it. Police said Cunynghame appeared ‘ heavily intoxicated’, smelled strongly of alcohol and kept repeating himself.
But Cunynghame claimed he did not realise police wanted him to stop as they overtook him at 49mph.
Despite having room to stop, he then ploughed into the car, damaging a door and wing mirror. Describ- ing the crash, he said: ‘There was no time to react or do anything. I got hit by the car and then crashed towards the kerb and as a result of that I managed to get my hands out and fall onto the pavement.’
After Cunynghame was arrested, he was taken to a police station where he told a nurse he had pains in his neck. He was then carried off on a spinal board with neck brace to hospital before being discharged.
Magistrate Annie Allum said: ‘We believe that Mr Cunynghame’s judgment was impacted by alcohol, not what would be expected by an experienced professional cyclist which he says he is.
‘We do not believe Mr Cunynghame’s evidence that he did not see or hear the police officers or hear the police car.’
The court was told he earns just £20,000 a year and allowed him to pay his fine in £20 per week installments.
Speaking after the hearing, an unrepentant Cunynghame, from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, insisted he was run over by police.
He said: ‘It was a complete shock, I pleaded not guilty and now we’re here. This is going to have a massive effect on me as you heard.
‘They took me out on a spinal board, it was not a nice experience, I was effectively run over by the police.’
As well as bike riding, he produces, writes and directs films and documentaries on cycling.