Mexborough and Swinton Times, March 24, 1939

Could Not Stop

Thurnscoe Man’s Dangerous Riding

John Allsopp, unemployed, Thurnscoe, was summoned at Barnsley on Wednesday for riding a bicycle to the common danger and for using violent and abusive language.

Hlle pleaded guilty to the first offence and not guilty to the second, saying, when the “language” was shown him, “It is ridiculous.” He pleaded that he had had as note and was in a hurry to look for work.

P.c. Cooper slid that at 3.40 p.m. on February 28th, he’, saw .Allsopp riding down the hill from Great Houghton to Thurnscoe at a fast speed.   His legs were wide apart and between the bars of the cycle was a sack of coal. As he passed he shouted to witness, “I will stop when I can.”  Witness. Followed him on a cycle a distance of five hundred yards and eventually he fell to the ground. The machine was without brakes.

When told he would be reported Allsopp became abusive and said, “You are not ‘going to, report me for this.” He refused to give his name but, eventually admitted it was Allsopp, and said, “You can get, the next from your ——- pals at Thurnscoe.” People were passing at the time.

Allsopp admitted to the magistrates that he could not stop when the constable requested him, so he fell off.

The Chairman (Mr W Hinchliffe) said “We are satisfied that what the constable says is true. You might have killed someone.

Allsopp was fined 10ds for the cycle offence and 5s for the language.