Drunken students caught damaging charity bike on Chester roundabout

Dec 10 2009 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

Drunken students caught damaging charity bike on Chester roundabout

DRUNKEN students were caught damaging an ornamental bike which was part of an awareness campaign for a breast cancer charity.

Three yobs were seen trying to ride the floral pink bike – one of six at the Fountains Roundabout in Chester – after a night out.

Gary Hulmes, 46, of Upton, a supervisor for Cheshire West and Chester’s Street Scene, who maintain the city’s grounds and gardens, said: “It’s wanton vandalism. They tried to take the bike away and then pushed it over.”

A second attack on the same bike took place on Tuesday night.

A total of 20 bikes were installed across the city during the summer. In October, the Fountains Roundabout bikes were sprayed pink as part of a month-long campaign to raise £15,000 for Breast Cancer Care.

“They are recycled from bikes the street cleaners found around the city,” said Gary. “We took the working bits off them, welded them and put hanging baskets on them. It took about four months.”

Cheshire police inspector Mel Williams confirmed the students – men aged 18 and 21 and a woman aged 18 – were arrested and ordered to make a donation to the charity.

He said: “This is a lesson for youngsters who engage in anti-social behaviour after they have had a few drinks.”

Chester University Students’ Union vice-president Ben Massey said it had not been confirmed they were university students but added: “Whether or not they are, we don’t condone behaviour like that at all. The right action has been taken.”