Wolverhampton biker Declan McCalla jailed for 14 months

Moment reckless off-road biker leads police on 90mph chase through city streets and dodges football players in busy park – as he is jailed for 14 months

  • Declan McCalla, 25, was caught on police dashcam riding recklessly last year
  • The Yamaha motorbike was using cloned number plates, police later revealed 
  • McCalla rode at up to 90mph in a bid to escape from following police officers
  • He was jailed for 14 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court earlier this week 

Shocking footage shows a cyclist lead police on a terrifying 90mph chase around residential streets – before he was finally caught hiding in a porch.

Declan McCalla, 25, was captured on police dash-cam tearing around 30mph zone roads and careering across a playing field while people were playing football.

He can be seen dangerously overtaking, going the wrong way around roundabouts, running red lights and mounting pavements.

Declan McCalla, pictured, rode at speeds of up to 90mph in an effort to avoid police in Wolverhampton while riding a bike on cloned number plates last year

As well as speeding, McCalla went off road in an effort to avoid his pursuers

As well as speeding, McCalla went off road in an effort to avoid his pursuers 

McCalla rode on the wrong side of the road against oncoming traffic in a bid to lose the police

McCalla rode on the wrong side of the road against oncoming traffic in a bid to lose the police

Traffic cops spotted McCalla on Good Friday last year, during the first lockdown, on board a white Yamaha MT07 motorbike in Wolverhampton.

The bike was on cloned plates and checks on police systems showed the VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark) matched an orange bike registered in Preston, Lancashire.

McCalla sped away from the officer and reached speeds of up to 90mph in 30mph zones as he tried to evade officers who were also on motorbikes.

He was pursued for around eight miles before going off-road across a football pitch and dumping the bike and sprinting away on foot.

Declan McCalla, pictured, was jailed for 14 months by Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday following his reckless ride last year

Declan McCalla, pictured, was jailed for 14 months by Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday following his reckless ride last year

Police dogs sniffed McCalla out lying low in the porch of a house in Bushbury Lane and he was arrested.

McCalla, of Bushbury, Wolverhampton, admitted dangerous driving and riding without a licence or insurance.

He was jailed for 14 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday .

Traffic Sergeant Mitch Darby, of West Midlands Police, said: ‘The standard of McCalla’s riding was truly shocking; he ramped up pavements and sped across public parks.

‘He could easily have put pedestrians at risk of serious injury.

‘But it was all the more outrageous given that we caught him during the middle of the Covid-19 lockdown.

‘People were being urged to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives – but McCalla used the quiet roads to drive at excess speed and pull stunts.

‘Anti-social off-road biking is a real concern for our communities. We’ve responded by running operations to catch offenders and they will continue throughout the summer.

‘Anyone who rides dangerously – or rides an off-road bike illegally on public roads or in parks – runs the risk of being arrested and having their bike seized and crushed.’

He even tried to escape by riding recklessly across a park in an abortive bid to avoid arrest

He even tried to escape by riding recklessly across a park in an abortive bid to avoid arrest