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| Cyclist caught riding 10 miles on Devon motorway | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A cyclist rode his bike for more than 10 miles of a busy stretch of motorway before being stopped by police. | A cyclist rode his bike for more than 10 miles of a busy stretch of motorway before being stopped by police. |
| Balin Hobbs, 52, was cycling on the hard shoulder of the M5 when police forced him from the road and into a service station near Cullompton, Devon. | Balin Hobbs, 52, was cycling on the hard shoulder of the M5 when police forced him from the road and into a service station near Cullompton, Devon. |
| He admitted riding a pedal cycle on a motorway and resisting arrest, at Exeter Magistrates' Court. | He admitted riding a pedal cycle on a motorway and resisting arrest, at Exeter Magistrates' Court. |
| He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge. | He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge. |
| More on motorway cyclist and more Devon stories | More on motorway cyclist and more Devon stories |
| The court heard how Hobbs cycled to Devon from London to attend the court hearing because it was against his spiritual beliefs to be driven in petrol or diesel vehicles. | The court heard how Hobbs cycled to Devon from London to attend the court hearing because it was against his spiritual beliefs to be driven in petrol or diesel vehicles. |
| It took him three days and he slept on the courtroom steps the night before. | It took him three days and he slept on the courtroom steps the night before. |
| Hobbs was heading towards Bristol on the M5 on his bike during the afternoon of April 29 when police caught up with him. | Hobbs was heading towards Bristol on the M5 on his bike during the afternoon of April 29 when police caught up with him. |
| He overtook the police car, and they forced him from the road after a further two miles when he went into a service station at Junction 28. | He overtook the police car, and they forced him from the road after a further two miles when he went into a service station at Junction 28. |
| He wrestled with officers as he was arrested and put into a police van, the court heard. | He wrestled with officers as he was arrested and put into a police van, the court heard. |
| Hobbs, whose address was given as Hennock, Devon, but who is living in London, said: "You are putting me in shackles for no reason." | Hobbs, whose address was given as Hennock, Devon, but who is living in London, said: "You are putting me in shackles for no reason." |
| Hobbs, who had no previous convictions, defended himself in court, and said: "I was definitely on the M5 on my bike." | Hobbs, who had no previous convictions, defended himself in court, and said: "I was definitely on the M5 on my bike." |
| But he claimed the police had "intimidated, harassed and harangued me" adding: "I did not intend to cycle on the M5 but I had to try and find my way to Bristol and then London." | But he claimed the police had "intimidated, harassed and harangued me" adding: "I did not intend to cycle on the M5 but I had to try and find my way to Bristol and then London." |
| Following the hearing, he mounted his bike to begin the journey back to London. | Following the hearing, he mounted his bike to begin the journey back to London. |