Pedestrians in St Ives chased and confronted a motorcyclist who was filmed damaging cars as he passed them in the busy harbour on Sunday afternoon (May 27).

In shocking scenes, people attempt to stop the man, forcing him to come off his bike as he reaches the town centre. Several pedestrians confront the rider, telling him he’s been filmed damaging cars and almost running people over. The situation escalates as passers-by attempt to defend the man, claiming he is homeless.

While telling the crowd to leave him alone, the motorcyclist attempts to get away before driving into a wall and falling off his bike as children cry in fear.

One man confronts him, asking for his insurance details before taking his bike keys as they tussle in the street. The man throws the key down as people shout for the police to be contacted. The man is seen being asked for his insurance details and says: “I haven’t got any insurance”.

Drivers chase a motorcyclist after he allegedy damages cars on St Ives harbour

He then rides off the wrong way up a one-way street, hitting a young pedestrian.

The video, which has been viewed more than 100,000 times on Facebook, was shot by Jake Swordy, from Marazion. He told Cornwall Live: “It was carnage. I was stood on the harbour having a cigarette when I saw the guy hitting the cars and the drivers chasing him. He carried on going after hitting four or five cars, a couple of really expensive ones."

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He added: “People were getting pretty het up and angry. It was a bit of a tricky one. I guess if your car was damaged you’d be angry. There were no police whatsoever.”

Mr Swordy said he saw the motorcyclist playing the harp in Fore Street 20 minutes later.

Some witnesses were shocked by how the man was treated by the crowd. Andy, who did not want to give his surname, said: “It was wrong what the guy did damaging the cars but I don't think he did it deliberately and I think he was scared to death the way everyone ganged up on him like that. Yes he did hit some cars, but I think the chap was petrified to death.

“The most alarming thing was to hear the kids crying as they was terrified, It's a shame there's not enough police to walk the streets and the local station isn't open to the public anymore due to government cutbacks. It would been much better to let the police deal with it.”

WARNING SWEARING: The moment a crowd confronts a motorcyclist who has damaged cars in St Ives

Someone on social media has posted details that show the bike has an MoT is taxed and is insured, despite the rider's denial.

Kate Collins commented on Mr Swordy’s post: “I don’t condone what he did but the way in which this was handled was completely wrong.”

However, Jade Brooker added: “Don’t feel sorry for him. I was there when he done it and he knew exactly what he was doing to other people’s cars and continued to drive through. The amount of damage on people’s cars was terrible.”

Devon and Cornwall Police said their logs showed there was one report of criminal damage to a car in St Ives at 5.30pm, though they couldn’t verify it was connected to this incident.