Man Jailed After Deadly Hit-and-Run on Motorcyclist in Dinton
Paul Barrett, 42, of White Road, Mere, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (20/12) after pleading guilty to a hit-and-run that killed motorcyclist Ryan Brindley. Barrett has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing, expected in January.
High-Speed Hunt Ends in Tragedy
The fatal crash happened just before 7.30pm on 22 December 2021 along the B3089 Hindon Road in Dinton. Barrett was driving a Volkswagen Touran, heading from Mere to Wilton for an appointment. Dash cam footage revealed a shocking twist: Barrett sped repeatedly through the 30mph village at up to 80mph. When he spotted Ryan, 43, riding alone, Barrett turned and pursued him at dangerous speeds.
Deliberate Collision Caught on Dash Cam
The footage shows Barrett deliberately crashing into the rear of Ryan’s motorcycle, dragging him along the road. Ryan was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Describe Incident as Random and Unprovoked
“The killing of Ryan Brindley appears to have been an entirely random and unprovoked incident,” said Detective Chief Inspector Simon Childe of the Major Crime Investigation Team. “There was no known connection or previous interaction between them. Ryan was targeted completely at random.”
“I would like to pay tribute to Ryan’s family who have suffered such a sad loss, and thank them for their support during the investigation. It is almost exactly a year to the day since Ryan was taken from them in the cruellest of circumstances, and my thoughts remain with them at this extremely difficult time.”
Barrett was arrested immediately and taken for hospital assessment before custody. The sentencing date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
