Motorcyclists (and a lot of other people) in the UK are outraged as Channel 4’s 24 Hours In Police Custody told the tale of a man who jumped in his car to chase down motorcycle thieves—and was sentenced to 22 months in jail after crashing into them as they fled.

First, if you’re wondering what24 Hours In Police Custodyis, you can read a write-up of the show here. It sounds like a tame version of Cops, telling the story of day-to-day operations of Bedfordshire Police.

The latest season opened with the tale of 34-year-old Adam White, who lives in the town of, uhhh…. “Leighton Buzzard”…. (quickly checks Google Maps to make sure this is a real placename—and apparently it is!).

Uh, anyway. White lived in Leighton Buzzard with his wife and two kids, but it does not appear he lives there anymore, after an incident when two crims tried to steal his motorcycle after responding to his for-sale advert. Understandably incensed with their misdeeds, White gave chase with his car, and lost control when he went around a corner. Unluckily for the fleeing thieves, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and White ran into them. The thieves were airlifted to hospital; White was arrested and charged with Serious Injury By Dangerous Driving.

In the aftermath, the two thieves, with a previous history of theft, criminal damage, reckless driving, and drug dealing, were handed suspended sentences and 200 hours of community service each. White was given a 22-month jail sentence after a jury found him guilty.

Surprisingly, we’d not heard about this case until the Channel 4 coverage, but wow, the world sure knows about it now. It’s all over the UK news, with riders and many other people enraged. There’s a去FundMenow to pay White’s bills, already raising £170,000—so much money, that White’s wife says they’re now donating further income from the fundraiser to charity.

作为for Bedfordshire Police: See their response to the Channel 4 show below, with more at the websitehere. Basically, the message is: “If someone is stealing your stuff, don’t try to stop them, call us!”

Ask the thousands of Brit riders who lose their bikes every year howthat’sworking out for them…