Man 'deliberately' drove at teenage e-bike thief

A man deliberately drove his car at a 15-year-old boy who had stolen an e-bike in an act of revenge, a trial has heard.

It has been alleged that Terrence King intentionally struck Devon Simmonds-Caines on Rowrah Crescent in Middleton, Greater Manchester, on 22 July 2025.

Michael Hayton KC, outlining the prosecution's case at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, said it "was not a tragic motor accident or poor driving".

The jury was told King, 60, had admitted manslaughter and accepted his actions caused Devon's death, but he denied murder.

CCTV and doorbell camera footage showed Simmonds-Caines riding an e-bike, which the court heard he had stolen from another boy.

King's car was seen driving at speed on the road before veering left, mounting the pavement and crashing into Simmonds-Caines, who died at the scene from his injuries.

The footage was too upsetting for some of the boy's family, who left the court in tears.

Outlining the case, Hayton said he was "certain Terrence King's actions were deliberate and intended to cause, at the very least, really serious harm".

He said the footage showed King steering his Vauxhall Insignia into the teenager on purpose and on to the pavement with no attempt made to apply the brakes.

He told jurors it was up to them to "decide whether his actions were reckless or deliberate".

He said the teenager had stolen the e-bike and had "attracted the envy" of others, adding that King, who sat listening to the evidence wearing a grey sweatshirt and glasses, had "set off in his car to find it".

He said it was the Crown's case that King went "from being outraged" to being someone who made "a criminal decision".

"This is not an attempt to recover the bike but to get revenge or punish the boy," he said.

The court also heard a pre-recorded interview with the boy whose bike was stolen.

The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he had been riding the e-bike when Simmonds-Caines and a friend attacked him.

He said punches were thrown before Simmonds-Caines escaped on the vehicle.

The trial continues.

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