Driver jailed for murdering biker who did wheelie

A man who chased and murdered a biker by deliberately ramming him with his car after seeing him do a wheelie has been jailed for life.

Abdirahman Ibrahim, 21, twice drove into Liam Jones, 22, as he rode his e-motorbike in Sheldon, Birmingham, on 1 August 2023.

He remained emotionless in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court as he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years on Monday.

After Ibrahim was convicted in February, police said they believed he was motivated to ram Mr Jones after seeing him showboat and wanted to "teach him a lesson".

Mr Jones crashed into a bollard and died at the scene from his injuries.

At the crown court on Monday, Judge Andrew Smith KC said it must have been clear to Ibrahim that Mr Jones was not wearing a helmet while riding his e-motorbike on Moat Lane.

"After careful reflection I have concluded that you did drive the car into and on Moat Lane such that you had the car available as a weapon," he said.

The judge said Ibrahim, of Bonham Grove, Yardley, had pursued Mr Jones and his friend in a "determined and deliberate way".

West Midlands Police previously said Ibrahim first came across Mr Jones and a friend when they were riding their e-motorbikes earlier on Coventry Road.

The 21-year-old started to follow the pair in his Seat Leon and CCTV footage showed the car close behind Mr Jones, who was performing a "stand-up wheelie".

The driver kept pursuing the riders and drove into Mr Jones twice on Moat Lane, shortly before midnight.

Police said he then drove away and parked his car in another neighbourhood, while his brother called for a taxi to take them home.