Father jailed after “foolish” ride with son

A father has been jailed after riding his dirt bike at 40mph across pavements, footpaths and roads – with his three-year-old son sitting on the tank. 

Ryan Ward, 23, was filmed by a police helicopter in Harpurhey, Manchester in June last year riding what looks like a Yamaha DT125R with his son, Daley, – neither were wearing a helmet.

Judge Martin Rudland at Manchester Crown Court said: “I have to deal with you for a rather unusual case of child cruelty, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified” and added that Ward was “extremely foolish”.

He was seen pulling wheelies and riding on pavements whilst his son was perched on the back of the tank with only his father’s arms as protection.

Ward admitted dangerous driving, cruelty to a child under 16, driving while disqualified and an unrelated firearms offence and was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.