A driver followed a biker before killing him ‘entirely at random days before Christmas 2021.
Paul Barrett, 42, of White Road, Mere, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at Winchester Crown Court today (20 December).
Driving a Volkswagen Touran, the defendant was captured on his own dashcam repeatedly driving through the village of Dinton, near Salisbury, reaching speeds of up to 80mph – despite it being a 30mph zone.
He then observed lone motorcyclist 43-year-old Ryan Brindley coming in the opposite direction, so turned around and followed him, driving at high speed to catch him up.
Barrett then deliberately collided with the rear of the motorcycle, carrying it along the road and causing the biker to fall off onto the ground. Ryan was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Barrett was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment before being taken into police custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Childe, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “The killing of Ryan Brindley appears to have been an entirely random and unprovoked incident.
“When we were able to watch the dash cam footage from the car Barrett was driving, it was clear that he was driving around the Dinton area and then changed direction to follow Ryan when he spotted his motorcycle.
“We do not believe they were known to each other, or that there had been any previous interaction between the pair. It seems that Ryan was targeted entirely at random.
“I would like to pay tribute to Ryan’s family who have suffered such a sad loss, and thank them for the support they have shown during the police investigation. It is almost exactly a year to the day that Ryan was taken from them in the cruellest of circumstances and my thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.”
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in January – on a date to be fixed.
