Shocking footage shows the moment a speeding moped rider smashes a mobile phone out of a pensioner’s hands before boasting about the bike: “Bruv, it’s stolen, I don’t care”.

Derek Pitt was walking along the promenade in Herne Bay with his partner when he noticed the biker ignoring the 20mph speed limit on Central Parade and pulling wheelies.

The 72-year-old began filming the thug, who then drove at him and knocked his phone out of his hand.

Mr Pitt says he tried to report the incident to Kent Police but was left frustrated after failing to get through by calling on 101 and then having difficulties with the force’s website.

The Herne Avenue resident says the shocking incident is an example of anti-social behaviour blighting the town.

He told KentOnline how the moped rider “came racing along the road” near The Ship pub at about 11am on Saturday before stopping to “talk to two lads”.

Mr Pitt then spoke to the two youngsters and asked them to “tell your mate it’s a 20mph limit along here – he shouldn't be riding at those speeds”.

“I get very frustrated with the amount of anti-social behaviour that takes place in the Bay...”

Mr Pitt added: “He was doing about 60mph and he was boasting that the bike did 100mph.

“They said sorry very politely so we decided to carry on walking but the next thing we know he has gone down past The Ship, done a turn and came hammering back doing a wheelie.

“It’s so dangerous – it’s the weekend, it’s the summer and there are kids around.”

When Mr Pitt tried to film the activity, the biker then drove at him and smashed his phone out of his hand before shouting about the bike: “Bruv, it’s stolen, I don’t care”.

Mr Pitt then ran into obstacles when he attempted to report the crime.

“I tried to contact 101 and they had excessive amounts of calls so they asked if I could do it online,” he explained.

“I tried to do it online but it said you have to have a video that lasts one minute before the incident and one minute after.

“It’s ridiculous because I don’t have that.

“When the local bobby has their Monday meeting I'm going to talk with them and tell them what happened.”

KentOnline understands that the warning message on the website says the footage might not be usable in court unless it shows a minute before and after the incident.

If Mr Pitt had wanted to upload it and report the crime, the length of the clip would not have prevented him from doing so.

But he says the police should make it easier for members of the public to report crimes in order to crack down on yobs.

“I get very frustrated with the amount of anti-social behaviour that takes place in the Bay,” he added.

“Lots of people moan about the police not doing anything but my concern is the community don’t do anything. They need to report it.

“If nothing gets reported, police don’t know about it and therefore they don't know there is anything to act upon.

“But the police need to make it much easier for the public to report these things in a very simple and straightforward manner that they don’t look at as a complete waste of time.”

KentOnline revealed in October how the number of crimes reported to Kent Police had dropped by 14,000 in the last year.

The statistics showed that in July 2022, some 55% of all 101 calls went unanswered. Many callers reported lengthy waits for a response, sometimes running into hours.

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police is aware of an incident of a moped being ridden in an anti-social manner on Herne Bay seafront on the morning of Saturday, July 8, and enquiries are ongoing to identify the rider.

“Tackling nuisance vehicles is a key part of the force's Safer Summer initiative, and vehicles have been seized and drivers reported for prosecution around the county in recent weeks.

“We encourage anyone to call 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger.

“Reports can also be made through our website or using the Live Chat facility.”