A TEENAGER has fallen foul of the police's new weapon to tackle illegal bikers - and received a suspended prison term.
Connor Walker, from South Elmsall, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Leeds Crown Court last week and was handed a curfew after being identified, arrested and charged in the first use of a new tactic by West Yorkshire Police.
The 18-year-old was sprayed with a tagging agent by a PCSO in woodland near Brierley on the Barnsley border, who also filmed him committing offences on a quad bike around the area on May 28.
The spray, every can of which contains a unique chemical signature, marked Walker and the vehicle, indisputably linking him to the offence.
He was later arrested at his home and, when checked with a UV lantern, officers found the substance on his hand and clothing matching the can he was sprayed from, proving he was on the vehicle.
Inspector Paul Sullivan said: "We are very conscious of the impact of antisocial off-road riding on our communities.
"It is no exaggeration to say the actions of some of these people had been spiralling out of control. We have seen offences being committed almost daily in communities, risking the safety of members of the public and the riders themselves, some of whom have been injured through their own behaviour.
"As a result we have acquired and been trialling a new DNA spray to 'tag' offenders in the act.
"It is a harmless, odourless and invisible solution, naked to the eye and is proving invaluable in helping us solve the problem of identifying offenders.
"By spraying the riders and the vehicle they are on while they are offending, our officers effectively tie them to the offence, proving beyond doubt that they were the person filmed offending.
"We are delighted to have achieved our first positive result in court and hope Walker's conviction demonstrates to anyone involved in this type of behaviour that no matter if you wear a headscarf, helmet or balaclava, your anonymity can't be guaranteed."
Full story in today's Chronicle.
