Pair sentenced after reckless attempt to flee police on stolen bikes

Two men, who are also brothers, have been sentenced after trying to flee police on stolen motorcycles in the early part of last year

A pair of brothers have been handed sentences after they tried to flee police on stolen motorcycles in February 2023.

Sentencing for 21-year-old Josh Bowler, of Lydia Gardens, Eastwood, took place on 5 January 2024 at Nottingham Crown Court. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years. Bowler was also banned from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

This came months after the 19-year-old Mark Bowler, of Gladstone Street, Heanor, was sentenced at the same court on 29 September 2023 to 12 months in prison, suspended by 18 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 11 days of rehabilitation activity. Bowler was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

The incident that led to their respective sentencing occurred almost one year ago now, on 8 February 2023, when Nottinghamshire Police tracked a stolen motorcycle to a location near Broxtowe Country Park. When police arrived at the stolen bike’s location, they spotted two riders – Mark and Josh Bowler – and an additional bike, which had been taken from Bestwood on 14 January 2023.

The pair tried to flee on the stolen motorcycles, riding “in a dangerous manner,” Nottingham Police says, and on the wrong side of the road towards oncoming traffic.