An electric bike pursuit through Upton ended with a 23-year-old man behind bars after he was caught riding in areas intended for pedestrians and travelling against the flow of traffic.
Joel Carrol in Liscard was sentenced to 12 months at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and failing to stop.
The pursuit began at around 3.45 pm on Tuesday, September 8, when officers spotted two electric bikes on Arrowe Park Road. Police said the riders failed to stop when instructed.
Carrol was later located on Hambledon Drive, where officers arrested him and seized the bike.
Police Footage Captures Pursuit
Video footage recorded by Merseyside Police vehicles shows the rider traveling at speed during the chase, including sections in which he uses the pavement and rides on the wrong side of the road.
The footage also shows the pursuit ending when Carroll attempts to negotiate a curb and loses control, falling from the electric bike.
Police subsequently located him on Hambledon Drive, bringing the chase to an end.
Inspector Simon Wilson said Carrol’s riding had placed both members of the public and police officers at risk.
He said the force would continue targeting the illegal use of electric bikes through Operation Gears.
Police Operation Has Seized More Than 1,600 Bikes
Operation Gears was launched in June 2025 to tackle the use of illegal two-wheeled vehicles linked by police to serious crime, robbery, and antisocial behavior across Merseyside.
The force said more than 1,600 two-wheeled vehicles have been seized since the operation began, with officers continuing patrols and enforcement activity.
Carroll’s case comes with a police warning that the dangerous use of these vehicles can result in serious criminal consequences.
Social Media Divided Over 12-Month Sentence
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The footage has generated a strong response when Police shared the footage on Instagram, with many commenters praising officers and supporting the decision to prosecute Carrol. Others focused on the moment he lost control, with some reacting humorously to the fall.
The biggest point of disagreement, however, was the 12-month prison sentence. Some commenters questioned why jail time was necessary for what they described simply as riding a bike, while others argued the punishment was justified and even suggested it should have been longer.
A number of commenters also praised the police response, while others criticised the pursuit or the way the incident was handled.