'Drunk' executive denies crashing stolen Mercedes into pedicab after police chase through London's West End

Published: 21:04, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 21:22, 3 August 2026 An executive has denied crashing a stolen Mercedes into a pedicab while allegedly being drunk after a police chase through London's West End. Taylor Farrimond, 31, was 'incredibly intoxicated' after a night at a nearby All Bar One cocktail bar, when he stole the unlocked car with the keys still in the ignition and raced cops through Covent Garden on April 11, Southwark Crown Court heard. After a chase which lasted less than 10 minutes, he allegedly smashed into a pedicab on Bow Street and was arrested at the scene. The incident also caused minor injuries to several people, including a woman called Angela Traykovska, prosecutor Sarah Madden said. Farrimond then 'kicked a uniformed officer in the head' after he was taken to hospital, she added. The executive, who is from South Africa, also damaged a Land Rover Defender on Russell Street before he stole the silver Mercedes EQS 450+, the court was told.  Farrimond, the former head of operations of coworking company Koba, denied causing actual bodily harm and assaulting a police officer. He also denied four counts of criminal damage, as well as dangerous driving. Taylor Farrimond, pictured, has denied crashing a stolen Mercedes into a pedicab while allegedly being drunk after a police chase through London's West End The criminal damage charges relate to the pedicab, a VW Polo owned by Ms Traykovska, the Mercedes and the Land Rover Defender. Judge Sally-Ann Hales, KC, freed Farrimond on bail and said: 'Your trial is now set for 22 November 2027. That's the earliest date the court can accommodate.' At an earlier hearing, Ms Madden said: 'The defendant had been drinking with his friend at All Bar One.' She said Farrimond's companion described him as 'normal and didn't think anything of it' until a bar worker told him to go outside and check on his friend. 'His friend saw the defendant had climbed on top of a number of vehicles and damaged them,' Ms Madden added. 'He tried the handle of a number of vehicles and found one open with the keys inside. He was incredibly intoxicated at the time. 'He drove it around central London, and after a very short distance, he collided with a pedicab, destroying it, before colliding with a taxi cab. 'From CCTV it appears a woman was struck.' The prosecutor said Farrimond 'kicked a uniformed officer in the head' after he was taken to hospital, 'and that is the actual bodily harm charge'. She added: 'He made the deliberate decision to endanger other users. He is driving intoxicated with alcohol and drugs.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.