A NUISANCE biker has been taken off the roads after police caught him using a unique DNA tagging spray.

Declan Drummond, 18, was riding a stolen KTM dirt bike on High Row, in Darlington, when he was sprayed with the tagging aerosol by police officers.

The spray marks bikes and their riders with a unique code for a few weeks and appears under UV light, providing concrete forensic evidence linking them to a crime.

Drummond, of School Aycliffe, was arrested later the same day and charged with a number of offences, including handling stolen goods, driving without due care and attention, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without third party insurance and obstructing an officer.

The teenager was remanded in custody and appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on February 25 and he pleaded guilty to the offences.

He was given a 12-month community order and given points on his licence. He was also fined and ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.

Inspector Chris Knox, of the Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “We have recently started using the DNA tagging spray to tackle nuisance off-road bikers.

“This is the first time it has been used in Darlington with a positive result where the offender was identified as a result of the DNA spray and brought before the courts.

“Officers from our neighbourhood teams, together with the bike section and roads policing unit, will continue to use the DNA spray to crackdown on those who blight our communities with illegal and antisocial riding.”

  • Anyone with any information on illegal or antisocial riding in their community should email opendurance@durham.pnn.police.uk