Toad Talks: A property owner is in court for protecting his belongings - this is just the start...

We see it in the news almost weekly in the UK: a safety balaclava-wearing teen who assumes that anything is fair game to be stolen losing their life in a crash - often on a stolen (or at least not-compliant with the law) motorcycle or scooter.

Cue outpourings of grief from family and friends, and quotes from loved ones saying things like ‘he was a loving but cheeky chap’ and ‘he lit up every room he walked into’ - presumably that was with a torch so he could look for things to nick.

Most of the time, it's a case of playing with hot coals and getting burned: a kid effed around and found out. But this latest case, involving a now deceased teenager called Dean Barnes, aged 16, is taking another rather disturbing twist.

First, some background on the events of January 24, 2023. Callum Duncan, aged 28, was at home and awoke to the sound of a drill and bolt croppers as his shed was being broken into. On exiting his house in Stockport, he finds three people making off with three bikes he had stored in the shed. Dean Barnes riding a PW50, Adam Norman, aged 36, on a Husqvarna, and Alexander Riley, who was 21 and riding a Kawasaki.

Duncan, who was, as most people would, trying to protect his property, made chase in a car. Once the trio knew they were being pursued, Barnes ditched the PW50 and opted to ride pillion on the Husqvarna. This decision ultimately cost the teenager his life.

After breaking the speed limit on residential roads to make their escape, Norman tried to cross multiple lanes of traffic, only for a totally innocent member of the public to cross paths with the pair, clipping the bike and sending them both to the ground. Adam Norman walked away, while Dean Barnes was killed “instantly”.

Now, it’s important to note here, Callum Duncan, the property owner whose shed was being targeted, isn’t in court for causing the crash directly; in fact, the court specifically notes that he is not being accused of crashing into the trio. Simply that his actions of following them caused them to ride in the manner in which they did. Let that sink in...

The case is continuing, and will probably do so for some time, but I find it worrying that as law-abiding members of society, we could be hauled into court simply for trying to protect what is ours. Given that police investigations into motorcycle theft are minimal, at the very best, what else do we have to try and protect or recover our stolen property, other than following the people who have taken it to find out where it has gone?

Granted, Mr Duncan made one serious mistake in all this, in that he should have called the police and emergency services immediately after the incident. The defence also argues that Mr Duncan should have gone to Barnes' aid to make sure he was alright. But how many members of the public would voluntarily go to the aid of a person who seconds before was damaging their property and taking away their motorcycles?

Norman, and the third burglar, Alexander Riley, have both admitted the burglary, although on trial at this hearing are just Norman (the rider of the bike that crashed) and Duncan (the homeowner). Both are accused of causing death by dangerous driving. Both men deny the offence.

So think twice before you give chase to thieves as they make off with your pride and joy.

You wouldn’t want them to hurt themselves.

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