Skip to content

Bike-borrowing Northampton policeman 'surprised' by reaction

Watch: Police officer commandeers man's bike to catch suspect

A video of a police officer borrowing a bike from a passer-by to chase a drug dealer has been watched across the world.

PC Lewis Marks, from Northamptonshire Police, said he was "surprised" by the reaction to a video of his quick-thinking response to the situation.

Bodycam and CCTV footage has appeared on newspaper, TV and video-sharing websites from Australia to America.

The drug dealer was caught and later sentenced.

Rob Constantin/BBC Man with very short dark hair and short beard wearing a black hoodieRob Constantin/BBC
PC Marks said his colleagues worked hard to catch criminals every day and he had not done "anything special"

The incident happened on 23 August when PC Marks was doing a routine inquiry into a possible drug deal taking place near Commercial Street in Northampton.

When officers arrived, the offender escaped on a bicycle.

Northamptonshire Police Cyclist riding on a cycle path with a road on one side and grass on the otherNorthamptonshire Police
The offender was captured on CCTV heading towards Becket's Park in Northampton.

PC Marks followed the man to Becket's Park, where he was then forced to park his car.

Thinking quickly, he saw a member of the public riding towards him and asked: "Can we borrow your bike?"

The rider handed his bicycle over and PC Marks set off across the grass in pursuit.

He caught up with the offender shortly afterwards and the man was arrested.

Northamptonshire Police Police car alongside a group of police officers who are arresting an offender who is lying on the groundNorthamptonshire Police
Bodycam footage showed the offender being arrested

Sean Prosser, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on 1 December to three years and four months in prison for drugs and criminal property offences, plus an additional four months for escaping from lawful custody.

Northamptonshire Police A close-up of two people shaking hands with a bike in the backgroundNorthamptonshire Police
PC Marks's bodycam captured a handshake when the officer handed the bike back to its owner

The pursuit has been featured in newspapers, on TV news programmes and on websites in places like Australia, the US and Hong Kong.

He told BBC Radio Northampton: "I wouldn't say it's run-of-the-mill, borrowing somebody's bicycle is a bit out of the ordinary, but, my colleagues, every other day they are having a foot chase with somebody.

"They're catching people every day, so I don't see it as I've done anything special, as my colleagues do just as many extraordinary things on a daily basis."

Northamptonshire Police Police officer standing with a bicycle outside a multi-storey car parkNorthamptonshire Police
PC Marks said borrowing a bicycle was out of the ordinary, but his colleagues did extraordinary things every day

PC Marks said he was not expecting the global reaction the story has had.

"I was surprised by how widely it's been picked up - I was expecting it to be more of a local news story.

"It's a bit of a strange feeling, really."

presentational grey line

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830.