A man who initially claimed £20,000 in damages after falling off his bike, was found to have attempted to defraud the local council by making a “fantastical” claim.

The incident occurred in May 2020 when Wigan resident Phillip Harkins sustained a fractured collarbone. He initially told the council he was cycling with a friend on Summit Street in Heywood, a narrow road in poor condition, when he hit a pothole. However, Rochdale Borough Council chose to contest the claim.

Summit Street, Heywood, Rochdale, August 2020Summit Street, Heywood, Rochdale, August 2020 (credit: Google Maps)

The court in Manchester subsequently heard that 42-year-old Harkins’ timeline of events did not match the account given by his friend when questioned independently. The judge concluded that neither cyclist could have been on Summit Street at the time of the incident.

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To make matters worse, the court also heard from two different medical professionals that treated Harkins after his fall. They said he had told them he was bunny-hopping on his bike and that his behaviour had likely caused the crash.

Rochdale Borough Council’s cabinet member for finance Carol Wardle said the court proceedings showed that Harkins’ claim was “totally fabricated”.

“We investigate all compensation claims because any money paid out is ultimately coming from the taxpayer and so we have a responsibility to ensure that public money isn’t wasted.

“Mr Harkins has paid a high price for trying to pull a fast one with what was essentially a totally fabricated claim. I hope this finding deters anyone who may be tempted to make similarly fantastical claims in the future.”

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In addition to having his damages claim dismissed for acting “in a fundamentally dishonest way”, the judge also ordered Harkins to pay Rochdale Borough Council’s legal fees, which totalled more than £18,000.

It is not the only time in recent weeks that a bunny-hopping cyclist has been punished for their behaviour. In October, Spanish professional cyclist Kiko Galván was “disciplined” by the team after being videoed bunny-hopping over a raised lane barrier, jumping into the oncoming lane round a blind bend.

> “A mistake has consequences, and I’m paying for them”: Pro cyclist “kicked off team” and pauses cycling career over dangerous bunny-hopping video

His Kern Pharma team subsequently dismissed Galván, leaving the 28-year-old to announce he was “pausing” his career and had sold his car to make ends meet.