Driver admits deliberately killing motorcyclist ‘at random’ by chasing and crashing into him just three days before Christmas
- Paul Barrett, 42, killed rider Ryan Brindley after deliberately colliding with him
- He was speeding around the village of Dinton in Wiltshire
- Barrett turned and bumped into Mr Brindley when he saw him in the road
- He has now pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility
By Alistair Lockhart for Mailonline
Posted: 19:24, 20 December 2022 | Updated: 19:28, 20 December 2022
A man has admitted killing a random motorcyclist by following and rear-ending him with his car just before Christmas last year.
Paul Barrett, 42, killed lone rider Ryan Brindley after deliberately crashing into the back of his motorbike.
Barrett has already been speeding around the village of Dinton in Wiltshire – reaching speeds of up to 80mph in a 30mph zone.
He then saw Ryan, 43, coming in the opposite direction, so he turned and followed – driving at high speed to catch up.
Paul Barrett pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility
Barrett killed motorcyclist Ryan Brindley after deliberately crashing into him at high speed
Barrett then deliberately rammed into the back of the bike – carrying it down the road and causing Ryan to fall to the ground.
Ryan was sadly pronounced dead at the scene last December.
Barrett pleaded guilty to manslaughter by virtue of diminished responsibility at Winchester Crown Court today.
Barrett, of Mere, Wiltshire, will be sentenced at a date to be fixed in January.
Ryan died following a collision on the B3089 Hindon Road, in Dinton, shortly before 7.30pm on 22 December 2021.
During the night, Barrett had left an address in Mere driving a Volkswagen Touran to travel to Wilton for a pre-arranged meeting.
Barrett was arrested and taken to hospital for evaluation before being taken into police custody.
Chief Inspector Simon Child, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “The killing of Ryan Brindley appears to have been a completely random and unprovoked incident.
“When we were able to view the dashcam footage from the car Barrett was driving, it was clear that he was driving around the Dinton area and then changed direction to follow Ryan when he spotted his motorcycle.
“We do not believe they were acquaintances or that there was any previous interaction between the pair. Ryan seems to have been targeted entirely at random.
“I would like to pay tribute to Ryan’s family who have suffered such a sad loss and thank them for their support during the police investigation.
“It is almost exactly one year to the day that Ryan was taken from them in the cruelest of circumstances and my thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.”
Add Comment