A driver has been sentenced to life imprisonment after deliberately striking a 15-year-old boy riding a stolen electric bike in Middleton, Manchester. Terrence King, 60, was found guilty of murder for intentionally hitting Devon Simmonds-Caines on July 22, 2025. The teenager died at the scene as a result of the collision.

According to court testimony, the electric bike, valued at approximately £3,000, had been stolen earlier that same day. The theft reportedly involved another youth who assisted after forcibly removing the original owner from the bike. Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed Devon riding along the street before moving onto the pavement, where King pursued him in a Vauxhall car at high speed. The driver then swerved and collided with the teenager.

King asserted in court that his intent was merely to block the stolen bike and not to cause any harm. He initially faced trial in January, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Subsequently, King entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, but a retrial culminated in his conviction for murder.

During sentencing at Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Maurice Greene emphasized that King's actions constituted unlawful private retribution, stating that while bike theft is a criminal offense, it does not justify resorting to violence. He added, "The law does not permit anger, panic or misguided loyalty to be turned into violence."

Devon’s father, Thomas Simmonds-Caines, expressed profound grief over the loss of his son. “He had his whole life in front of him. He was a very talented, clever boy. My son was taken from me far too soon,” he said.

King received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years and one day to be served before eligibility for parole. The case highlights issues surrounding vigilante responses to crime and the tragic consequences that can follow.