Key Points
- Dangerous Speeding Captured on Camera: Surveillance footage shows Shantho Rahman operating a high-speed electric motorbike through Newcastle city centre at night without operational headlights.
- Grainger Street Collision: The rider struck a female pedestrian who was crossing Grainger Street, leaving her hospitalized for nearly two weeks with pelvic and arm fractures.
- Court Proceedings: Newcastle Crown Court heard that Rahman, who was 17 at the time and held only a provisional licence with no insurance, was fleeing two men on a moped when he reached speeds of up to 47 mph.
- Suspended Sentence Handed Down: Rahman, now 21, admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and received a 21-month suspended prison sentence alongside a two-year driving ban.
Newcastle (Newcastle Times) September 18, 2026 – Newly released CCTV footage presented at Newcastle Crown Court reveals the moments a teenage electric motorbike rider sped through pedestrianized areas of Newcastle city centre in the dark before crashing into a woman on Grainger Street, causing severe physical injuries.
As reported by court reporter Rob Kennedy of Chronicle Live, Shantho Rahman was recorded riding his vehicle shortly before 11:00 pm on April 6, 2023. The surveillance footage shows Rahman traveling along Gallowgate toward the city centre before switching off his headlights near the junction of Percy Street. Court proceedings established that Rahman was 17 years old at the time of the incident, possessed only a provisional driving licence, had no vehicle insurance, and was wearing dark clothing.
As reported by Rob Kennedy of Chronicle Live, prosecutor records show that after switching off his lights, Rahman was followed by two men on a moped who executed a U-turn at the junction. Rahman subsequently accelerated through pedestrianized public areas near Grey’s Monument before entering Grainger Street.
How Did the Grainger Street Collision Occur?
According to details presented in court by prosecution counsel, a woman socializing with her friend was attempting to cross Grainger Street when Rahman approached at high speed without lights. As reported by Rob Kennedy of Chronicle Live, CCTV footage captured the moment the two pedestrians paused upon noticing the approaching vehicle to see if the rider would take evasive action.
When Rahman failed to alter his path or decelerate, the pedestrian attempted to dodge out of the way, but the electric bike struck her directly. The force of the impact threw the victim to the ground and unseated Rahman from the vehicle. The victim suffered fractures to her pelvis and arm, remaining hospitalized for nearly a fortnight, and later stated in court that she retains no memory of the event.
What Arguments Were Presented in Defence of the Rider?
During the police interview and subsequent court hearing, Rahman stated that he had been out riding his electric bike after finishing work to clear his head. As reported by Rob Kennedy of Chronicle Live, Rahman claimed he initially turned off his headlights so as not to dazzle other road users, but later accelerated to speeds of up to 47 mph after becoming fearful that the two individuals following him on a moped intended to rob him.
Defense barrister Joe Culley noted that Rahman, now 21 and residing at Philip Place, Newcastle, has emotional development and consequential thinking difficulties, but maintains regular employment and has expressed remorse for his actions.
Presiding Judge Penny Moreland observed that while Rahman expressed a sense of grievance regarding the circumstances leading up to the collision, his choice to operate an uninsured vehicle at excessive speeds with no lights directly resulted in severe harm to a member of the public.
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What Was the Final Legal Outcome at Newcastle Crown Court?
Rahman pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, alongside 100 hours of unpaid community work.
Additionally, Rahman was handed a two-year driving disqualification, required to complete an extended re-test prior to obtaining a licence, ordered to pay £1,500 in court costs, and subjected to a deprivation order forfeiting the electric motorbike. He had previously received six penalty points and a fine for driving without insurance.
Background of the Development
The legal resolution of Rahman’s case occurs amid wider national scrutiny regarding light electric vehicles (LEVs) and high-powered modified electric motorbikes across the United Kingdom. Under UK legislation, Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) must adhere to a maximum motor power output of 250 watts and a speed cap of 15.5 mph to be legally operated on public roads without licensing, registration, or tax.
Vehicles exceeding these thresholds—or modified with high-capacity motors—are legally classified as motor vehicles, requiring proper licensing, helmets, road tax, and third-party insurance. Police forces across the North East of England, including Northumbria Police, have increased targeted enforcement operations in recent years to address non-compliant electric motorbikes operating in city centres and pedestrian corridors.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect City Centre Visitors and Micro-Mobility Operators
The judicial ruling and published footage from Newcastle Crown Court are likely to influence both local governance and consumer habits across urban retail districts:
- Stricter Enforcement for Urban Riders: The confiscation order and driving ban handed down in this case establish a clear precedent for law enforcement agencies across Tyne and Wear to seize non-compliant or modified electric bikes operating illegally in pedestrianized shopping areas.
- Increased Safety Monitoring for City Visitors: Pedestrians navigating central corridors like Grainger Street and Grey Street may see enhanced police patrols and security infrastructure aimed at deterring unauthorized motor vehicles from entering pedestrian precincts.
- Rethinking Micro-Mobility Compliance: Retailers and users of high-output electric bikes face increasing pressure to verify vehicle legal status, as court outcomes demonstrate that fleeing potential threats on an illegal or uninsured bike does not negate criminal liability for reckless driving.
