Man accused of injuring police officer during e-bike crackdown faces court

• By Penny Burfitt

• ABC Illawarra

• Topic:Courts

Posted Wed 28 Oct 2026 at 3:29pmWed 28 Oct 2026 at 3:29pm

In short: 

Brandon Edward Tilsed is accused of injuring a police officer with an allegedly non-compliant electric dirt bike on the NSW South Coast.

The 18-year-old Barrack Heights man faced Port Kembla Local Court today.

What's next?

The matter was adjourned to give his legal team time to watch video associated with the alleged incident.

An 18-year-old man accused of hitting a police officer with an allegedly illegal electric dirt bike during a police crackdown in the Illawarra has faced court.

Brandon Edward Tilsed appeared in Port Kembla Local Court before registrar Peter Ritchie today.

The alleged incident occurred on October 16 during a joint NSW Police and Transport for NSW crackdown targeting illegal e-bikes.

Court documents allege Mr Tilsed was riding an Artic Leopard XF Pro, an electric dirt bike, when he collided with a senior constable who was on a mountain bike on Aquatic Drive in Shell Cove.

The Barrack Heights man is accused of leaving the scene of the crash without helping the injured officer.

Police allege that when officers and Transport NSW staff found Mr Tilsed at nearby Bass Point Reserve a short time later, he ran and hid in bushland before being arrested.

In an application to the court to forfeit the bike, NSW Police stated the officer involved was seriously injured and later required surgery to reattach his kneecap to a tendon.

Court documents outlined six charges against Mr Tilsed, including driving in a manner dangerous to the public on a road, failure to stop and assist after an impact causing injury, and not giving particulars to an injured person.

He was also charged with being unlicensed on a motorcycle and using an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle on the road.

Mr Tilsed's lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned until November to allow more time to watch video and seek instructions.

The court registrar approved the new date.

Application to remove bike

The application to forfeit Mr Tilsed's bike for disposal will also return to court in November.

In it, police described the vehicle as a motorcycle that was non-compliant with Australian design rules, and that had not been registered or insured, despite having a vehicle identification number (VIN).

The application said the bike, which was purchased for $5,400 and belonged to Mr Tilsed, was incapable of being registered without significant modifications such as installing lights, mirrors and indicators.

In August, police gained new powers to seize non-compliant e-bikes and surrender them for destruction.

The October crackdown was the second operation conducted under the new laws.