Police are warning of the dangers of illegally modified electric bikes after the rider of one was sentenced over a collision which caused the death of a man in Leeds.
Oury Diallo, aged 22, of Meynell Approach, Holbeck, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today (10 March 2025) for causing the death of 51-year-old Vincent Cullinane by careless driving in relation to a collision in Leeds city centre on 21 April 2022.
Shortly before 5.40pm that day, Mr Cullinane had been riding his pedal cycle on the pavement in East Street when he was involved in a collision with Diallo who was also riding on the pavement.
Diallo had modified his pedal cycle with an after-market battery, which independently powered the bike, making it a motor vehicle under road traffic legislation.
This type of ‘powered transporter’ falls outside of the definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) that can be legitimately ridden without being classed as a motor vehicle.
Mr Cullinane suffered serious injuries and remained in a critical condition in hospital until he died 19 days later on Tuesday 10 May 2022.
The incident was investigated by officers from West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team, and Diallo, who was 19 at the time of the collision, was charged in October last year with causing death by careless driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing on 20 January this year.
Today he was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also given a 15-day rehabilitation order and 200 hours community service and disqualified from driving for four years and until an extended test is passed.
Detective Sergeant Steven Suggitt, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said:
“Vincent Cullinane’s family have been left absolutely devastated by his death in a collision which shows very clearly the dangers and risks of illegally modified electric bikes, scooters and other similar vehicles.
“These ‘powered transporters’ are classed as motor vehicles by definition and are subject to all the same legislation as cars and motorbikes.
“The unregulated power they produce and the speeds they can achieve create clear potential risks to the safety of others.
“Anyone using such a vehicle faces being prosecuted for driving without insurance and without a licence and having their vehicle seized.
“The illegal riding of this modified cycle led to Vincent sadly losing his life and we hope this case will highlight the potentially tragic consequences of using an illegally modified electric vehicle.”
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Police
Photo: A modified cycle seized recently in Belle Isle
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