Banned e-bike rider left boy injured in Thornaby street after crash

Christopher Taylor was banned from the roads when he smashed into the nine-year-old and made off, claiming to have panicked, Teesside Crown Court heard.

He then commented on a Facebook post showing CCTV of the incident in Thornaby saying he was “truly sorry” and would hand himself in, but failed to and two days later police found him hiding in a kitchen cupboard, trying to conceal himself behind a black bag.

Cainan Lonsdale, prosecuting, said, “thankfully” the boy “only” suffered scratches and abrasions to his back and a cut to the head which required three stitches. He underwent an X-ray but the scan revealed no further injury.

Although his family did not wish to provide a victim impact statement for the court, they did tell police their son had recovered well from treatment.

Mr Lonsdale said CCTV from the scene was shared on social media and the defendant was identified, so he posted a response on Facebook apologising, claiming to be “truly sorry”, pledging he would hand himself in to police.

Teesside Crown Court heard that as he fled Taylor shouted to the boy to get up, but other road users and passers-by in the street did go to his aid. Taylor was said to “to feel sick with shame.”

Despite his pledge to hand himself in, following the incident in Imperial Avenue on March 26, it was only two days later that he was arrested after officers went to his home address in Middlesbrough.

He claimed he had tried to swerve to avoid the boy, who it was accepted had not looked before starting to cross the road.

Mr Lonsdale said Taylor told police he “panicked” and rode off, stopping around the corner in a neighbouring street.

ChristopherTaylor, 34, starting an 18-month prison sentence after colliding into a boy on a pedal cycle and riding off on an illegal e-bike without going to his aid (Image: Cleveland Police)

He said he had intended to hand himself in but accepted the e-bike he was riding was not “road legal” and, therefore, he was uninsured.

Mr Lonsdale said it was estimated Taylor was travelling at between 15 to 20-mph at the time and did attempt to swerve to avoid the boy on the bike but he could not avoid the collision.

Taylor, 34, of Maple Avenue, Grove Hill, admitted careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and having no insurance.

The court heard his 17 previous offences included drink and drug driving, for which he received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a three-year driving ban, in November.

Jonathan Gittins, for Taylor, said, “he knows things could have been much worse”, regarding the boy’s injuries, for which he has expressed his shame and remorse, offering an apology to the victim and his family.

Mr Gittins said the defendant did intend to hand himself in, but, again, “panicked”, knowing he was in breach of a suspended prison sentence.

He said since being admitted to custody, at Holme House Prison, Stockton, awaiting sentence, it has been the defendant’s first taste of life behind bars.

Mr Gittins added that it was, “time he hasn’t wasted”, as he has remained “substance free”, with the help of the prison drug and alcohol service, and has been working in the wood mill, making furniture.

Judge Nathan Adams said that viewing the brief CCTV footage of the incident was among the most “distressing” clips he had seen, watching the boy being dragged along the road for several metres before, “being left in a heap”.

The judge told Taylor: “He was quite clearly in pain and distressed, yet you reacted as you did, riding off.”

Judge Adams said just the use of the bike was illegal and noted that Taylor had never held a driving licence.

He activated the 14-month suspended sentence, imposing a total term of 18 months.

Banning him from the roads for a further 42 months, the judge told Taylor: “You have got to realise you must stay off a mechanical vehicle of any kind.

“Otherwise, you will only find yourself serving longer and longer periods in prison.”