E-motorbike rider sentenced after police chase

A woman has been sentenced after crashing an unregistered electric dirt bike during a police chase.

Natalia Burke, 21, of Queensway, Melksham, Wiltshire, sped away from a marked police motorcycle and led the officer along Spa Road and into Coronation Road in Melksham on 9 July.

She then crashed into a wall before fleeing the scene.

Burke pleaded guilty to six charges at Salisbury Magistrates' Court and was handed a 12-month community order to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. Burke was also disqualified from driving for four months.

Burke admitted failing to stop for police after a road crash, driving without due care and attention and riding a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.

PC Luke Hobbs, from Wiltshire's Roads Policing Unit, said: "Burke's manner of driving was incredibly careless and it's a matter of luck that no one was injured.

"I would encourage anyone who owns or is thinking about buying an e-bike to consider the clearly defined regulations to ensure they are not breaking the law when riding it."