Man jailed for riding motorbike through busy shopping centre

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

A 20 year-old man who rode an off-road motorbike through a busy shopping centre has been jailed for 12 months.

CCTV footage shows James Kinsella weaving a scrambler bike through bemused shoppers at the Strand complex in Bootle, Merseyside, on January 7.

Kinsella can be seen darting past onlookers in the shopping centre, including mothers with prams.

Once he makes it through to the other side of building, the 20-year-old can be seen raising his fist in celebration.

Kinsella, of Bootle, admitted dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and not wearing protective headgear at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and must take an extended test. His licence was also endorsed.

Inspector Ian Jones said that it was "sheer luck" that no one was hurt as Kinsella had shown "a blatant disregard" for other peoples' safety.

He said: "It is clear from the CCTV footage that the centre was very busy at the time and there were a number of shoppers - including mums with prams - just feet from the bike. It is only by sheer luck that nobody was struck by the bike and seriously injured or worse.

Additional reporting by Press Association