Driver killed biker ‘at random’ by deliberately ramming him with car

Paul Barrett admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility (Picture: SWNS)

A man has admitted killing a motorcyclist in a ‘random and unprovoked’ attack following him and ramming him from behind in his car.

Paul Barrett, 42, killed lone rider Ryan Brindley after deliberately colliding with the rear of his motorbike.

Barrett had already been speeding around the village of Dinton in Wiltshire, near Salisbury, reaching speeds of up to 80mph in a 30mph zone.

He then saw Ryan, 43, coming in the opposite direction so turned around and followed him, driving at high speed to catch him up.

Barrett then deliberately collided with the rear of the motorcycle, carrying it along the road.

It caused Ryan to fall off onto the ground where he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Barrett, of Mere, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at Winchester Crown Court today. He will be sentenced on a date in January yet to be fixed.

Hindon Road in Dinton, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, where the crash happened (Picture: Google Maps)

The collision happened on the B3089 Hindon Road shortly before 7.30pm on December 22 last year.

On the night Barrett had left an address in Mere driving a Volkswagen Touran, to apparently travel to Wilton for a pre-arranged appointment.

Barrett was arrested and taken to hospital for assessment before being taken into police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Childe, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘The killing of Ryan Brindley appears to have been an entirely random and unprovoked incident.

‘When we were able to watch the dash cam footage from the car Barrett was driving, it was clear that he was driving around the Dinton area and then changed direction to follow Ryan when he spotted his motorcycle.

‘We do not believe they were known to each other, or that there had been any previous interaction between the pair. It seems that Ryan was targeted entirely at random.

‘I would like to pay tribute to Ryan’s family who have suffered such a sad loss, and thank them for the support they have shown during the police investigation.

‘It is almost exactly a year to the day that Ryan was taken from them in the cruellest of circumstances and my thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.’

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Paul Barrett, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at Winchester Crown Court today.