A 29-year-old man on an electric bicycle taunted police trying to stop him by shouting “catch me plod”, a court heard.
Lewis Rafterty also swore at police whilst tearing up the grass in a Wisbech graveyard on his high-powered bike.
Raftery was arrested on the evening of August 22 by neighbourhood policing officers who were on foot patrol near St Peter and Paul’s Church in Church Terrace, Wisbech.
Raftery was later identified by police and arrested at his home in Ecton Grove, Elm.
He appeared at Peterborough magistrates’ court on Wednesday (19 October) where he admitted driving without due care and attention, criminal damage and using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
He was fined £40, must pay £100 compensation to the owners of the church yard – Fenland District Council – and has had three penalty points added to his driving licence.
PC Justin Bielawski, from the Wisbech Neighbourhood Policing Team, said tackling anti-social behaviour has been a focus for the neighbourhood team for a while.
“This month, following consultation with our communities, tackling ASB in parks and open spaces in Wisbech Town Park, St Peter’s Garden and Tillery Park has been formally set as a priority for us to focus on over the next three months.
“We know ASB brings misery to communities, and we are targeting patrols and focusing our time to best tackle this issue, however I would urge members of the public to report concerns and information about ASB to us so we can ensure our time is spent where it is most needed.”
Information about ASB can be reported to police online here.
