Birmingham Man High on Mamba Steals £750 E-Bike from KFC Delivery Rider

A man from Birmingham has admitted to stealing a £750 electric bike from a food delivery driver while under the influence of the synthetic drug commonly known as mamba. Stephen Taylor, 46, from Sparkhill, took the bike outside a KFC branch in the city centre on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. The delivery driver, who had a GPS tracker attached to the e-bike, promptly chased after Taylor.

Police officers patrolling nearby spotted Taylor and another man riding the stolen bike on Hill Street and pursued them. Taylor was arrested the same day and subsequently faced charges of theft of a pedal cycle and possession of a Class B controlled drug.

During sentencing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 28 September, prosecutor Shajah Javed explained that the victim alerted the officers immediately after the theft when he returned to his bike, which he had left outside KFC while collecting food. The victim’s prompt report enabled police to locate Taylor and recover the stolen bike.

Mr Javed added that officers found mamba hidden in Taylor’s shoe upon his arrest. Defence lawyer Kulbir Kumar described the theft as “optimistic” and with very little planning, suggesting the opportunity simply presented itself. He also noted that Taylor has been making efforts to address his drug misuse since the incident and has not used mamba again.

Magistrate Ms Hake addressed Taylor’s behaviour in court and emphasised the importance of engaging fully with probation and rehabilitation services. Taylor, who has previous theft convictions but none in the last eight years, was sentenced to an 18-month community order including six months of participation in a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement. He was also ordered to pay court costs of £229 and will be monitored for six months.

Before leaving the court, Taylor stated he had taken the bike because he was “under the influence” after smoking mamba and referred to a difficult period in his life during which his home was “overtaken by drug users,” a situation he said has since been resolved.