E-bike rider convicted after fatal collision on illegally modified bike in west London

An e-bike rider involved in a fatal collision in west London, and who illegally modified his vehicle, has been banned from driving for six months.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Friday that Henry Morgan, 61, collided with a man in his 60s on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd's Bush on 28 February last year.

Morgan was overtaking a bus while riding a bike, illegally fitted with a throttle so it could reach speeds up to 27mph, when he hit the pedestrian as they attempted to cross the road.

The victim died of a head injury following the accident. The London court heard that while he originally faced a criminal investigation, it was ultimately found that Morgan was not responsible for the crash.

However, the 61-year-old did plead guilty to driving the modified bike without a license or insurance, using an illegally enhanced e-bike, and failing to wear appropriate protective headgear.

Sentencing Morgan, District Judge Michael Snow said that the penalty appears, "given there was a death, pathetically small", while acknowledging that the man faced no charges over the fatal accident itself.

"It's become a common sight for all of us who travel around London on bikes, on foot or in vehicles to see these electric bikes, which have been modified, tearing around at frightening speed, causing clearly significant danger to other persons", the judge added.

"I often see these bicycles flying around in cycle lanes where they are not designed to be."

Modifications made e-bike a motorbike, say prosecutors

Legally, e-bike motors must cut out when a speed of 15.5mph is reached. Prosecutors argued that Morgan's bike was effectively turned into a motorcycle by the modification.

Judge Snow said he had no evidence that Morgan had ridden the bike in the wrong area, nor that he was the one who modified it.

"It was capable of going almost twice the legal limit," the judge continued. "There is no evidence before me of the speed that he was going at the point of this dreadful collision resulted in the death of this individual.

"As he was not found to be culpable for this death, I have to, in these purposes, disregard it."

However, he added: "This case does represent a salutary warning of the dangers which road users in London face at the hands of bicycles which have been adapted in this way, causing (a) clear and obvious risk."

Read more from Sky News:
What Sky News uncovered about Clinton and Epstein's relationship
Thirty dead swans found amid 'suspected avian flu outbreak'

Robert Grey, defending, said Morgan's original Riverside bike was available to buy in high street sports retailer Decathlon, and that it was purchased in an already modified state.

"This offence was borne out of ignorance," he said of Morgan. "He didn't appreciate he needed a licence and didn't appreciate he needed insurance."

Morgan was also fined £240 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £96 victim surcharge on Friday.

(c) Sky News 2026: E-bike rider convicted after fatal collision on illegally modified bike in west London