Staffordshire Police have arrested two men following reports of hazardous off-road bike riding in Newcastle town centre. The incident involved theft, criminal damage, and assaults on emergency workers.
Two men have been arrested following reports of dangerous off-road bike riding in Newcastle town centre. The incident took place on Thursday, 17 April, at approximately 9:30am in Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Members of the public alerted police after witnessing the off-road bike being ridden in a hazardous manner through the town centre. Staffordshire Police responded by sending officers to the scene, where they seized the bike and detained two suspects.
An 18-year-old man from Newcastle-under-Lyme was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, common assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
A 22-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was also arrested, facing charges including using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, attempted theft of a motor vehicle, and common assault of an emergency worker.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police stated: "Officers were called to Ironmarket following reports of a bike being driven dangerously. The bike was seized and two men were arrested. Our enquiries are ongoing. Anyone who has any relevant information is asked to contact us."
Police are urging witnesses or anyone with further information regarding the incident to contact them by calling 101 and quoting incident number 205 of 17 April. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can reach out to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The event occurred recently on 17 April, so the narrative is current and not recycled. There are no indications that the information is outdated or referencing obsolete roles or people.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quote from the Staffordshire Police spokesman appears to be original, likely from a direct police statement on the incident. No earlier or alternative sources for this exact wording were found online, suggesting it is a fresh, direct quote.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Stoke Sentinel, a known local news outlet in Staffordshire. It is generally reliable for local news and police-related incidents, though not a major global publication.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims regarding arrests following dangerous bike riding and the charges listed are credible and consistent with typical police procedures and reports. Details are plausible and verifiable through official police channels.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The report is timely and fresh, with direct police quotes that appear original and not recycled. The narrative comes from a credible local news outlet and the incident details are plausible and consistent with known law enforcement reporting. No contradictions or outdated information were identified.
