A MOTORCYCLIST who accompanied the funeral procession of tragic schoolboy Reece Tansey pulled wheelies, careered up streets at speed and rode along a pavement next to the hearse.
Organisers of the 15-year-old's funeral in May had asked for motorcyclists to accompany him on his final journey as the teenager loved bikes.
The bikers were supposed to respectfully follow the funeral cars through Bolton, but Bolton Crown Court heard how several bikers, including 20-year-old Jensen McNally, sped up and down the streets around the cortege.
After admitting dangerous driving McNally, of Towers Avenue, Bolton, was sentenced to four months in a Young Offenders' Institution.
Alexandra Sutton, prosecuting, told the court how, at 12pm on Friday May 28 the funeral cortege for Reece, who died after being stabbed earlier that month, was passing along Settle Street in the town.
The proceedings were being monitored by police in a car parked at the junction with Leonard Street.
"Their attention was drawn to motorcycles driving erratically along Settle Street," said Miss Sutton.
"The motorcycles are described as driving at speed, pulling wheelies, turning round and repeating the manoeuvres."
McNally, riding a green and white off-road Kawasaki bike, attempted to turn quickly in front of the police vehicle and almost fell off the bike.
"As the rider stopped and steadied himself the officers recognised him to be the defendant," said Miss Sutton.
McNally and another motorcyclist continued riding up and down the street.
"At one point the officers saw the defendant riding his bike on the pavement, cutting between parked cars," added Miss Sutton.
After 20 minutes McNally rode off out of view but the funeral procession was also being monitored by a town centre CCTV operator.
"She described that she had seen the driver running red lights, doing what she described as bike stunts and driving in and out of traffic," said Miss Sutton, who played footage from the CCTV cameras in court.
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh, heard how McNally already has 14 convictions for 23 offences and was on licence from a custodial sentence at the time of the funeral.
Damian Zelazowski, defending, told the court that McNally had joined in the funeral procession because he wanted to give Reece "a good send-off" and had posted a picture of himself on his bike on Snapchat with the message "RIP Reece. Hope to meet you on the other side".
Mr Zelazowski added: "He accepts that what he did went beyond, perhaps, what he should have been doing,"
"Well, that's an understatement," commented Judge Walsh.
The court was told that McNally was emotional at the loss of a friend.
"He simply offers his apologies. Looking back he would much rather have simply remained as part of the procession," said Mr Zelazowski.
As well as a four-month sentence, Judge Walsh banned McNally from driving for three years and three months, after which he will have to take an extended test.
"You, together with others, it must be said, were riding in an aggressive manner, dangerously," said the judge.
"Nobody was injured by the way in which the vehicles, your vehicle in particular, was being ridden but quite clearly, by driving in a manner such as this you posed a danger to other road users."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article