A man has been banned from driving by courts for his involvement in disrespectful and antisocial behaviour during a funeral procession.
Ketan Singh-Baat, of no fixed address, attended Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on February 8 charged with multiple driving offences following a joint funeral service for Tyrone Forde, 22, and Jordan Caster, 19, in April 2021.
The 20-year-old joined more than 60 cars, trucks, bikes and quads in the procession in memory his friends who were tragically killed in a car accident on the M1 in April last year.
Some of those involved were caught by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) driving in an anti-social manner during the day on Sheffield’s roads and performing ‘doughnuts’ at the cemetery, causing damage to the land.
NPAS colleagues followed the cars as they left the cemetery providing vital evidence that would later be used to assist Roads Policing Officers to identify Singh-Baat as the driver of several vehicles during the day.
Singh-Baat was identified as driving a Mercedes Wagon during the funeral procession and an Audi on cemetery land later in the day.
On June 23, Roads Policing Officers stopped a grey Volkswagen Golf on Earsham Street in Sheffield when their attention was drawn to the driver and passengers of the vehicle not wearing seatbelts.
Upon stopping the car, officers found Singh-Baat driving while disqualified and wanted for outstanding offences committed at the Sheffield funeral.
Investigating Officer PC Jamie Walker said: “Antisocial driving will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire. Singh-Baat’s disregard for anyone else in the cemetery was disrespectful and dangerous.
“While gathering evidence against Singh-Baat we obtained statements from grieving witnesses and workers who were in the cemetery at the time, and it was clear from speaking to them the distress this caused to people, and the work required to repair the damage.
“I hope this acts as a reminder that we take antisocial behaviour very seriously, and we will continue to bring those responsible before the courts.”
At court Singh-Baat was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to retake a driving test, given a community curfew order and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £95 victim charge.
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