A vigilante who used his flatbed lorry to ram a quad bike off the road, sending a teenager flying through the air, has been jailed. Declan Fahey, 27, from Croxdale, County Durham, took the law into his own hands after a friend's quad bike was stolen. He deliberately crashed into the vehicle, causing life-changing injuries to a 16-year-old rider.
Attack Details
Newcastle Crown Court heard that on March 5 last year, Fahey pursued the quad bike on Redworth Road in Shildon before intentionally colliding with it. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered multiple fractures to his skull, face and thigh bone, as well as possible bruising to his lung. The quad bike was carrying up to four people, all without helmets, and the impact sent them violently through the air. Fahey then drove off without stopping to help.
Court Proceedings
Fahey denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent but was found guilty by a jury. Recorder Richard Herrmann described the attack as a premeditated, revenge-driven vigilante act. He noted that Fahey believed the riders were responsible for the theft, making them "fair game." The judge stated, "You intentionally drove your large, heavy vehicle into collision with the quad bike... The callous disregard you had is best demonstrated by the fact you drove off."
When questioned by police, Fahey refused to accept responsibility, claiming the incident was the rider's "own fault." During the trial, he denied intending to hit the quad, saying he would not have wanted to damage his friend's property. However, the jury rejected his account.
Sentence
Fahey, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and banned from driving for 57 months. His defence lawyer, Chris Morrison, argued the attack was "based on a chance sighting" and that Fahey had reported the theft to police. Morrison described the episode as out of character, stating, "He is a good man who has been convicted of doing a bad thing." He added that Fahey had lost three-and-a-half stone while remanded in custody.
