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Three bikers have been jailed for killing a rival biker gang member who was wearing his ‘colours’ on their patch.
Benjamin Parry, 42, and Chad Brading, 36, both of Plymouth, along with Thomas Pauley, 32, of Ivybridge, were found guilty of the manslaughter of David Crawford, a 59-year-old grandfather from Plymouth.
Parry was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Breiding and Pauli were sentenced to four years each. The trio, who were part of the Bandidos motorcycle club, were acquitted of murder.
The senior member, given a longer jail term for his “significant if not leading role”, was also banned from driving for 10 years.
The victim, who was a member of rival group the Red Chiefs, was killed on the A38 near Plymouth on the evening of May 12, 2022, in what was described in court as a “co-ordinated attack”.
During a trial at Plymouth Crown Court last November, jurors heard that it was considered “offensive” for a member of one club to ride with the badge of a rival club wearing “colours” – the badges and emblems of that club.
Footage was played in court of Mr Crawford riding his black Kawasaki motorcycle in the north end of the Devon city. As he was driving along St Budeau Road, he was stopped by Pauli and Breiding, riding in Pauli’s black Mercedes.
David Crawford, in a family portrait
(Delivered)
Parry, driving his company Transit van, came up behind Mr Crawford and rammed his bike, knocking him to the floor. Parry sped off with Mr Crawford pinned under the van, merging onto the A38 Devon westbound.
Mr Crawford’s body eventually came loose on the incline at the Weston Mill junction after being dragged for hundreds of metres.
He was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a “horrifying” number of injuries.
Crawford’s motorcycle gear after being dragged under Parry’s van
(Delivered)
Prosecutors said the three defendants, through a series of calls and “alerts”, tried to track down the victim and said none of them had “the decency to stop or call an ambulance”.
In a police interview, Breiding claimed that “nobody was aiming to kill anybody.” He added: “It just never should have happened.”
Sentencing, Mr Justice Garnham said: “Mr Crawford was completely innocent in all of this. He had just gone out for a ride on his bike with his friends from his motorcycle clubs.
“You three had absolutely no right to decide who could ride in Devon and what color they could wear.
Crawford’s helmet was worn down to the padding
(Delivered)
In a victim impact statement read to the court on Friday, Mr Crawford’s wife Anne-Marie said: “David was the life and soul of the party, he was passionate about rugby which he played from school.
“He was loved by his family and close friends. He had a motorcycle most of his life.
She said the incident left her shaken and scared to leave the house alone.
“I’ve lived in Plymouth all my life and for the first time I don’t like living in this town. When I can afford it, I will move to another country,” she said.
Agencies contributed to this report
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