A VIGILANTE who knocked a motorcyclist off his bike with his car before battering him repeatedly with a baton has been jailed for nearly seven years.

Motorbike mad Steven Walden reached speeds of 70mph down residential roads as he tried to hunt down the rider, who he believed had stolen the vehicle.

Taking the law into his own hands, the 22-year-old collided with the victim, flipping his own car in the process and leaving the motorcyclist in a serious condition.

At Southampton Crown Court, Walden was branded a "cowardly bully" by Judge Christopher Parker QC who sent him to prison for six years and 10 months.

The court heard that Walden, who said all he wanted inside his prison cell was a picture of his beloved motorcycle, and five others had received a tip-off via a Hampshire Constabulary supported Facebook group that a motorcycle had been stolen and was in Woolston.

Setting off in two cars, prosecutor Jeremy Wright said the group, which met up once a month to scour the streets to find stolen motorbikes, made attempts to try and locate the vehicle.

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Walden led the group's chase in a vehicle, which had fake number plates on it, before finding the rider.

Despite pleas from his friends in the car to slow down and not knock the victim over, Walden struck the motorcyclist on Weston Lane in the early hours of July 19.

Mr Wright told the court: "His car rolled over and it seems that everyone got out and the first thing Walden did was get the [baton] out of the car and strike the motorcyclist who was lying on the floor in pain.

"He gave the [baton] to another of his friends and encouraged everyone to leave the scene and the motorcyclist on his own with significant injuries."

The court heard the victim sustained a fractured skull, broken collar bone and a bleed on the brain as a result of Walden's attack.

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Mr Wright said shortly after fleeing the scene, Walden contacted the police to say his car had been stolen, pretending he had not been involved in the incident.

He was soon arrested before admitting at court charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possessing an offensive weapon, perverting the course of justice, using fraudulent vehicle registration plates, driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Walden, of Acacia Road, Southampton, also pleaded guilty to a charge of causing actual bodily harm to a man who had become friends with his ex-girlfriend.

Mark Florida-James, mitigating, explained Walden was unhappy at the bikes being stolen and since helping out with a Facebook group dedicated to finding stolen bikes, had located more than 300 motorbikes.

But he said Walden would now be forced to leave Southampton after his actions sparked anger and death threats from people on social media.

In sentencing him, Judge Parker QC said: "You put the lives of the motorcyclist, yourself and your friends at risk...you speak of the people who support what you do [trying to find stolen motorbikes] but your actions caused this many a serious injury.

"What you did was plainly wrong and anyone who supports what you do should know that."

He added: "You are a cowardly bully."

As well as his term of imprisonment, Walden was banned from driving for seven years and one month and will also have to take an extended test if he wishes to get behind the wheel again.