Magistrates in Hull have fined daredevil BMX rider Ryan Taylor for climbing the Humber Bridge without permission.
Taylor was part of a group of men who scaled the safety barrier at the Barton end of the Bridge in May last year, and illegally walked up the cables to the top of the south tower.
In a hearing held on Friday 12th January, magistrates fined Taylor £400 and ordered him to pay £125 costs for breaching the Humber Bridge’s byelaws.
Taylor, a professional BMX rider who hails from Walsall in the West Midlands, did not attend court for the hearing.
The case came about after the Humber Bridge Board brought a private prosecution.
Dr Kevin Moore, Chief Executive of the Humber Bridge, said the Board was now looking into the possibility of taking action against other individuals.
He said: “The fact that we prosecuted shows how seriously we take this offence – we’re pleased it was a heavy fine. We are looking at further court action where we can against others who were involved.”
Taylor and the other men scaled the Bridge without harnesses or other safety equipment in the early hours of Monday 15th May 2017.
The men took videos and pictures of themselves at the top of the Humber Bridge which they later posted on YouTube and other social media channels. They fled the Bridge after being spotted by security cameras at the top of the south tower.