Man broke boy's leg in illegal motorbike crash
BBCA man broke his child passenger's leg when he crashed an illegal unlit motorbike into a car on a dark night, a court has heard.
Uninsured and unlicensed Peter Greenhalgh, 45, was speeding on an off-road motorbike with a 10-year-old boy on the back when he crashed in Washington in January 2023, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Judge Carolyn Scott said it was "really good luck and fortune" the boy was not more seriously injured and no-one else was hurt.
Greenhalgh, of Barmston, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance. He was jailed for 25 months, suspended for two years, with 250 hours unpaid work.
Greenhalgh, who lived a "nomadic" lifestyle and identified as a "freeman of the land", had bought the Stomp 160cc bike earlier in the day of 26 January 2023, prosecutor Emma Dowling said.
The bike had no lights and could not be legally driven on the roads, the court heard.
He took the bike out "for a spin" with the boy on the back, with both wearing helmets and dark clothing, the court heard.
'Screaming in pain'
Greenhalgh altered his course when he spotted a police car and headed on to The Drive where, at about 20:00 GMT, a woman was driving a Ford Fiesta with her brother in the front passenger seat and five-year-old child in the back, the court heard.
After checking the road was clear, the woman went to turn into a shopping area but stopped when her brother suddenly said he could hear - but not see - a motorbike, Dowling said.
Greenhalgh was speeding along the road and the woman was "unable to avoid" a crash.
The child on the bike suffered a broken leg for which he was still receiving treatment three years later, the court heard.
Witnesses at the scene heard Greenhalgh apologising to the boy, who was "screaming in pain" and said he had not wanted to go on the bike in the first place, to which Greenhalgh replied "I know, I'm sorry", the court heard.
Compensation ordered
The woman's Fiesta was also extensively damaged and she had to sell it, resulting in losses of about £900, Dowling said.
The court heard Greenhalgh failed to appear at a hearing in June 2023 and was not arrested until July 2026.
Judge Scott told him: "It is really good luck and fortune the injuries to [the boy] were not more serious and other people were not injured by your actions that evening."
She said the probation service decided it was unable to offer any rehabilitation programmes due to Greenhalgh's identification as a "freeman of the lands" who did "not conform to typical social boundaries".
Representing himself in court, Greenhalgh sought to assure the judge he would complete the unpaid work.
Greenhalgh was also ordered to pay £500 to the other motorist and was banned from driving for two years and until he passes an extended test.
