‘I was assaulted by Chichester bike thugs’

A 65-year-old man has spoken to the Chichester Observer about his experience being set upon by a group of balaclava-clad teenagers on bikes last week.

The man was cycling down West Street when “a gang of six kids, no older than 15” gathered around him by the Cathedral and attempted to pull him off his bike.

He managed to get away over the Dutch roundabout towards The Tanneries and stopped to try and take a photo as evidence of the harassment.

He said the youths caught up with him, and after a lot of name-calling grabbed his phone. He thought they had all ridden off, and just as he started out for home, they came back, kicked him off his bike and threw him to the ground.

The man sustained injuries to his legs and ribs and is still in pain a week on.

He said, “I called the police on the crime number, and later got an email to say sorry – but there’s not much we can do.”

This attack is the latest in a spate of harassments and thefts by these young people that have been reported both to the Police and by residents on social media.

The victim said the police need a bigger presence and that “they must know who these kids are.” He pointed out that whilst he was able to walk away, another more vulnerable person could have been seriously injured.

“What is going to happen when these kids grow up and get cars, or knives or worse?” he asked.

He said that since the incident he has been scared to get back on his bike and is re-thinking his routes and the times that he cycles. He added that many of his friends are now doing the same thing – which is sad given that we are all being encouraged to travel more sustainably.

“These kids are probably excluded from school with no parental guidance, no role-models and no accountability. No one can catch them, and they know it.”

James Vivian is the Chichester district councillor for Chichester Central Ward. He said he was: “Shocked and appalled about this incident, which reflects many of the fears felt by residents in Chichester.

“Too often I am told that when residents do reach out to police, there is no follow up, or are told directly that there is nothing the police can do. When thugs like these feel they are untouchable, we have lost control of our streets.

“More and better investment must be made to ensure we get back to proper neighbourhood policing.”

 Last week Chichester Police issued a statement reassuring the community that they are “aware of recent discussion circulating online regarding the use of illegal e-bikes, dangerous riding behaviour and associated incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“We want to reassure the community that we are actively working on this issue and understand the impact it is having locally.

If you have been a victim of a crime, or witnesses criminal behaviour relevant to this, or have any information about the individuals using illegal e-bikes, please report this to us quoting reference 4725015435.”