A cyclist was killed by a teenager who was riding an illegally modified battery-powered bike, a court has heard.
Vincent Cullinane was fatally injured after being struck by Oury Diallo, 19, on a pavement in Leeds city centre.
The 51-year-old was left in a critical condition and died in hospital 19 days later.
Diallo, now 22, had modified his bike with an illegal battery which independently powered it.
This made it a motor vehicle under road traffic rules, as opposed to an e-bike which can be legally ridden.
Diallo, of Holbeck, Leeds, was working as a courier for fast food delivery service Deliveroo at the time of the fatal accident, Leeds Crown Court heard.
He was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after admitting causing death by careless driving.
In the early evening of April 21, 2022, Mr Cullinane was riding his bike on the pavement when he collided with Diallo.
Vincent Cullinane (pictured) was fatally injured after being struck by Oury Diallo’s bike
Diallo had modified his bike with an illegal battery which independently powered it (File image)
Detective Sergeant Steven Suggitt said: ‘Vincent Cullinane’s family have been left absolutely devastated by his death in a collision which shows very clearly the dangers and risks of illegally modified electric bikes, scooters and other similar vehicles.
‘The illegal riding of this modified cycle led to Vincent sadly losing his life and we hope this case will highlight the potentially tragic consequences of using an illegally modified electric vehicle.’
Mr Cullinane suffered serious injuries which he succumbed to in May, 2022.
Diallo was charged in October last year with causing death by careless driving, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing on January 20, 2025.
As well as his suspended sentence, Diallo was given a 15-day rehabilitation order and 200 hours community service.
He was also disqualified from driving for four years and will need to pass an extended test at the end of his suspension before he can resume driving.
‘These “powered transporters” are classed as motor vehicles by definition and are subject to all the same legislation as cars and motorbikes,’ DS Suggitt said.
Claudiu Carol-Kondor (pictured0 died from crush injuries after Mark Ross stole his van
Ross (pictured) swerved in the stolen van, driving at nearly 60mph on residential streets
‘The unregulated power they produce and the speeds they can achieve create clear potential risks to the safety of others.
‘Anyone using such a vehicle faces being prosecuted for driving without insurance and without a licence and having their vehicle seized.
It comes amid an ongoing trial in the case of a thief who killed an Amazon delivery driver after stealing his van.
Claudiu Carol-Kondor, 42, died from crush injuries after Mark Ross, 32, stole his van while the victim was delivering parcels in Leeds on August 20 last year.
Ross swerved erratically in the stolen vehicle, driving at nearly 60mph on residential streets to ‘get rid of’ Mr Kondor while he clung on to the van door to stop it from being taken.
Leeds Crown Court heard today that Ross, who also hit two parked cars at speed, showed ‘complete disregard and even contempt for Mr Kondor’s life’.
Prosecutors say the defendant was trying to shake off Mr Kondor as he hung onto the van’s open passenger door.
Ross has admitted manslaughter but denies murdering the victim, saying he was unaware of him hanging onto the van.
Prosecutors say Ross was trying to ‘get rid of’ Mr Kondor (pictured)
John Harrison KC, prosecuting, said the Amazon driver ‘lost his life after this defendant showed, you may think, a complete disregard, even contempt, for Mr Kondor’s safety and his life’.
The ‘career criminal’ must have realised Mr Kondor, who was wearing a high-viz jacket, was there, but made the choice that the driver was ‘expendable,’ Mr Harrison said.
But Simon Kealey KC, defending, reminded jurors that Ross had said: ‘I would have stopped the van and run off if I had known he was there.’
Mr Kealey said Ross admitted stealing vans previously but said he had ‘never been involved in anything like this before’.
Ross, of Conference Road, Armley, said he had been smoking cannabis that day and was out that evening to buy more.
The jury began their deliberations on Tuesday lunchtime and Mr Justice Goss sent them home for the day.
