13 committed to crown court over ‘rideout’

THIRTEEN PEOPLE are due to appear in court on June 1 in connection with a Halloween ‘rideout’ where a large number of motorcycles congregated in the city.

The 12 men and a woman appeared before Leeds Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with causing a public nuisance on October 31 last year. All were arrested as part of Operation Dice, an investigation following the incident in which motorcycles and quad bikes congregated in Kirkstall Road.

The incident led to an injunction being granted to Leeds City Council which bans anyone from participating in anti-social motorcycle-riding in the city.

Those appearing before the court were: David Armitage, aged 26, of Brookfield Road, Headingley; Jamie Ayres, 26, of Lupton Avenue, Burmantofts; Hernani Banza, 27, of Shafton View, Holbeck; Omar Ahmed, 24, of Stonegate View, Meanwood; Ashley Benson, 25, of Whingate Road, Armley; Michael Clough, 27, of Torre View, Burmantofts; Ben Colley, 26, of Butterbowl Road, Farnley; Dean Fawcett, 28, of Intake View, Middleton; Nicholas Flaherty, 29, of Prospect Street, Farsley; Rachel Taylor, 29, of Grange Park Walk; Joshua Hawley, 22, of Mead Grove, Colton; Dylan Lockwood, 23, of Torre Grove, Burmantofts; Adam Nicholson, 26, of Bellmount Close, Bramley. Colley is also charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance. Flaherty is also charged with perverting the course of justice.

The case was committed to Leeds Crown Court. All were bailed to appear on June 1. Anton Rojas, 26, of Skelton Avenue, Burmantofts, failed to attend court; a warrant was issued for his arrest.