A terrified grandmother has described the moment thugs in balaclavas deliberately drove a quad bike at her and her two-year-old grandson on a Bradford housing estate.
Elaine Booth had just taken Kye O’Neil Booth out of his car seat outside her home in Broadstone Way, Holme Wood.
But she was forced to throw the frightened youngster back into the vehicle and jump out of the bike’s way as it was steered towards them.
“We have had problems over the last year with quads and motorbikes,” said Mrs Booth. “It happens day-in, day-out, but they have gone too far this time. It was intimidation, bang out of order and downright dangerous.”
Mrs Booth, 52, added: “The rider moved over the road as if to hit me and scare me. I thought it was going to hit me, but it missed me by a couple of inches and then he drove off laughing.
“It absolutely scared me to death. I swear to God I thought he was going to squash me.”
The drama on Monday was captured on CCTV that Mrs Booth has at her house. The quad bike involved had a rider and a passenger on board.
Fed-up Mrs Booth said police do nothing despite, she claims, Holme Wood being plagued by youths illegally riding quad bikes and off-road motorbikes.
“The bike was more than likely illegal,” said Mrs Booth. “The riders were wearing balaclavas and the bike had no number plates.
“But the police do nothing. They say they are not allowed to chase them because it endangers lives.
“They don’t give a damn and just leave us to it on a council estate. If it was Ilkley it would be different.
“It is only a matter of time now until one of these idiots falls off the bike doing wheelies and the bike hits a child or pedestrian and kills someone.
“They blast in and out of traffic, pull dangerous wheelies, and cause such a loud noise problem we can’t open our windows in the summer or sit out in the garden.
“Something needs to be done about this now. It has gone totally beyond a joke. It’s no longer just a nuisance, it is dangerous.”
A police spokesman said that since April 1, the force had received 22 complaints of anti-social behaviour across Tong and Wyke relating to quad and off-road bikes.
Inspector Andy Addy, of the Tong and Wyke neighbourhood policing team, said: “Tackling anti-social behaviour remains a priority in Holme Wood and we are aware of this latest incident on Broadstone Way.
“The information provided by the victim has been logged and we are pro-actively pursuing the individuals behind this.
“We can achieve a positive outcome to such behaviour by identifying the riders and their vehicles. Officers will visit the culprits in an environment which does not increase the potential for danger or place the public’s safety in jeopardy.
“Only last week, a 28-year-old man was arrested in Holme Wood for using a quad in an anti-social manner. He subsequently had his vehicle seized and was dealt with for a public order offence.
“These tactics are making a difference. However, we need the continued support of local residents to tell us when and where the bikes are being used and who is on them. A description of what they are wearing, as well as the machine they are using, is very useful.
“Those committing these offences risk losing their accommodation, as involvement in anti-social behaviour would be a breach of the terms of their tenancy agreement.
“People can send any photographs to the NPT via ganpt3@westyorkshire .pnn.police.uk.
“Please let us know if you have any details of those riding illegally in your community and we will act.”
Ward Councillor Alan Wainwright (Lab, Tong), who lives in Holme Wood, said: “If people know who they are, please contact any Tong ward councillor or the police. Ring 101 and they will come out and impound the bikes.
“Someone knows who they are. The only way we can deal with this problem is by giving names. We are working very closely with the police, Bradford Council and Incommunities to eradicate the problem – but we are short of people giving us names.”
Last month, the T&A reported how Bradford Council wardens were using video-equipped motorbikes to target yobs on quad bikes in places such as Bierley, Bradford and Shipley.
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