Man rages ‘insanity this yano’ in courtroom telling associate to ‘keep sturdy babe’
Convicted drug dealer, Thomas Williams, 35, launched into a tirade after a judge sentenced him to jail for an e-bike crash that saw him catapulted into a ‘full somersault’
A man launched into a foul-mouthed tirade shouting “madness this yano” as he was sentenced to prison for an e-bike crash. Thomas Williams, 35, asked “am I going to jail?” after being thrown into a “full somersault” when he crashed his Sur-Ron e-bike into a car while attempting to flee police.
The convicted drug dealer claimed he “got scared” by the sight of cops while he was out for a ride with his mates. Liverpool Crown Court heard how police spotted three electric bikes heading eastbound down Edge Lane in Liverpool just before 1am on April 4 this year.
Two of the bikes were ridden solo, while the third carried passengers. All riders were dressed in black. Prosecutor Laura Atherton detailed how the riders ignored police orders to stop, triggering a chase, reports The Echo.
Williams’ Sur-Ron was followed to the junction of East Prescot Road and Eaton Road in West Derby, where he failed to slow down at the roundabout and crashed into a Vauxhall Zafira. Williams, from Hazleton Road in Broadgreen, was catapulted from his bike, performing a ‘full somersault’ before hitting the ground, the court was told.
While the other vehicle sustained damage, its four occupants escaped unscathed. Williams was subsequently taken to Aintree Hospital but refused to provide a blood sample for alcohol and drug testing. Upon his arrest, a small amount of cannabis was discovered in his jacket pocket.
He admitted he had “driven too fast” and expressed that he “wanted to apologise to everyone involved”.
Williams also revealed that the bike he was riding was borrowed from a mate and insisted he didn’t deliberately refuse to comply with custody tests as he was “out of it”. His rap sheet reveals 19 convictions for 29 offences, including failing to provide a specimen for analysis in 2018 and a 44-month stint for offering to supply class A drugs in 2021.
But Olivia Belle, defending, told the court: “This was an utterly reckless and inconsiderate standard of driving. It is fortunate that the driver of other vehicle and passengers were uninjured. He reports to be ashamed by his actions. Even his partner has berated him for acting in such a foolish manner at the age 35.”
Ms Belle meanwhile said of Williams’ mum and partner, who supported him from the public gallery: “They see a different man to the one who last appeared before these courts in 2021. To his credit, he has not been before these courts for four years. He has no previous convictions for driving offences. Most importantly, he has not committed any further offences since these offences in April of this year.
“This type of offending is not reflective of his previous criminality and is certainly not an escalation in offending. He ultimately wishes to break the toxic, continuous cycle of returning to custody.
“It appears, following his release in December 2022, that his life was heading in a positive direction. He has taken steps to address his offending behaviour and plans for his future. Since his release, he has made efforts to make real changes to his lifestyle. He has secured employment as a scaffolder. If your honour was to send him to prison today, this would reverse the progress he has made and likely send him down a dark path.
“He is determined to continue working in employment in the community. He intends to gain further qualifications. He is a father of a young boy, aged six. The defendant tells me that he is expecting a further child, a son, in June 2026 with his partner. If your honour were to send him to custody, that would have a significant impact on her.”
Williams admitted to dangerous driving, motoring without a licence and insurance, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and possession of cannabis.
Passing a 14-month sentence, Judge Sarah O’Brien said: “You did a full somersault in the air before hitting the pavement. The occupants of the Vauxhall were shaken and upset, but thankfully none of them were injured.
“It involved a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road and a disregard for the safety of others. It was obviously a highly dangerous manoeuvre to go straight over a roundabout without slowing down. In terms of aggravating features, there are your previous convictions. There has been a gap in offending since you were last sentenced in July 2021, but, of course, for part of that time at least, you were in custody, and, for part of that time, you were on licence.
“You have a son, aged six, and your partner is expecting a child. I accept that you are remorseful. You are fortunate to have the support of your partner and mother here in court. You have recently lost your grandfather. This offence was serious. You could have very easily seriously injured someone, including yourself. It is only by luck that you did not.”
Williams erupted with rage after learning his fate, shouting: “Am I going to jail? A bike crash? It’s just mad. Pathetic though. I’ve got a kid on the way. Madness this yeno.”
His mum and partner were seen breaking down in tears, with Williams heard telling the latter to “stay strong babe” before adding: “F****** joke mate. Nonces walking the streets though. F****** horrible mate.”
While his mum tried to console him with “Tom, it’s ok”, he retorted “it’s not ok though” before continuing: “14 months for a f****** bike crash. F****** madness. F***joke.”
Williams’ mum was also heard saying “better off being a sex offender, get better treated” as she exited the courtroom. He was additionally barred from driving for 49 months and will need to pass an extended retest.
