One of Damilola Taylor’s killers put lives at risk in moped chase with cops through crowd
A KILLER of Damilola Taylor put lives at risk in a moped chase with cops through crowds.
Ricky Preddie, 37, had already been banned until 2033 after ploughing into a cop in a previous chase.
In March, police spotted him riding his cousin’s Yamaha moped.
They signalled him to stop but Preddie hit 50mph in 20mph zones in Chiswick, West London, as he weaved past footie fans, jumped lights then leapt into a river.
Preddie admitted dangerous driving and got another year’s ban plus 240 hours’ unpaid work.
Isleworth crown court heard he has been caught 11 times for driving while disqualified and has 60 convictions in all.
He was 13 when he and brother Danny stabbed to death Damilola, ten, in Peckham, South London, in 2000.
Prosecutor Harriet Palfreman told the court about the previous dangerous driving offence committed by Preddie in 2019 when he caused “serious injury” to a police officer.
Ms Palfreman said that on that occasion, Preddie was driving an Alfa Romeo car and was “made aware of the presence of police officers behind him” in Harrow, North West London.
She said Preddie had “intentionally and aggressively” reversed the car back and crushed a PC.
Preddie was given four years imprisonment for that offence.
Ms Palfreman said the latest case was a “prolonged, persistent and also deliberate course of dangerous driving.”
She said Preddie drove well above the speed limit, weaved between and in and out of cars, and did a U-turn in the middle of the road.
She said: “The motorcycle went through two red lights in the middle of the pursuit and also mounted a pavement.’
The prosecutor added that it was also “important to note’ the ‘high presence of pedestrians at the time due to a football match.”