A 15-year-old boy who caused the death of his friend Jacob Calland in an e-scooter crash has been spared jail. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was driving the scooter at speed through a red light in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, on March 19, 2025, when it collided with a car. Jacob, riding on the back, suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died eight days later.
Details of the crash
The court heard that the teenager had owned the e-scooter for only two weeks; his mother had purchased it with his savings. On the afternoon of the crash, CCTV showed the pair travelling on a footpath from Churchstoke Walk onto Timpson Road, where they overtook a vehicle and continued towards the junction with Southmoor Road. They overtook a van waiting at traffic lights that were 'clearly showing red,' according to Judge Suzanne Goddard. The van driver described the scooter 'whipping' up past him at great speed, making no attempt to stop.
The scooter entered Southmoor Road, where traffic was moving freely under a green light. It swerved to avoid one vehicle but collided with a black BMW, whose driver had 'less than a quarter of a second' to react. Both boys were thrown into the air and then hit a stationary Peugeot in the opposite lane. Both drivers were 'extremely distressed' at the scene.
Victim impact statement
In a moving victim impact statement, Jacob's mother Carly, holding a teddy bear containing her son's ashes, said her heart had been 'smashed into a thousand pieces.' She recalled: 'I will never forget when doctors told me there was nothing more that could be done. My entire world stopped. I could not stop his pain or make anything better.' She described falling asleep holding Jacob and telling him she loved him before life support was turned off. 'A part of me is lost forever,' she said. 'His little brother cannot understand why he is not coming home. Sometimes I forget that he is gone. The house is so quiet without him, his toothbrush is still in the bathroom. When reality hits I cannot breathe or function.'
She added: 'I knew e-scooters were dangerous and not suitable for children and I remember warning Jacob about them. I never thought he would lose his life riding on the back of one.'
Legal proceedings and sentencing
The teenager pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at the first opportunity. The court heard he had no previous convictions but had grown up in a 'troubled, traumatic, very unstable' household affected by drugs and alcohol and was under a social services protection order at the time. He had since moved in with his father, who had 'helped turn his life around,' and was studying for his GCSEs.
Defence barrister James Hudson said the boy demonstrated a 'lack of awareness' but had not made a 'deliberate decision.' 'The consequences of his actions weigh heavily on him and he is deeply remorseful,' he said.
Judge Goddard handed the boy an 18-month youth referral order and a five-year driving disqualification. 'Children are to be treated very differently to adults,' she said. 'The focus should be on rehabilitation and custody should be the last resort. You were seeking the thrill of riding at speed, not thinking of the danger. But there are things that make you less responsible. You rarely attended school and have not received appropriate parenting. You had no training on how to ride a scooter and your upbringing was characterised by neglect.'
She added: 'This is a very serious offence, but not so serious that it requires immediate custody, which is likely to damage the progress you have made and increase your risk of further offending, as opposed to a secure supportive family environment and progressing at school. Any custodial sentence will cause harm to you and put you at risk of serious mental health issues. I accept you are deeply sorry for causing Jacob's death and the devastation to his family will stay with you for life.'
Police response and safety warnings
Detective Constable Steve Pennington from Greater Manchester Police said: 'This was a tragic incident and one that could have been avoidable. The ongoing efforts of Jacob's mother Carly have been truly commendable and to see her utilising her emotions and grief to power and promote a worthy cause has been inspiring to see. E-scooters are not harmless toys and they can lead to horrific consequences when used by inexperienced riders and without the due care required. I would urge parents to check what their children are using and to ensure they are educated about the risks of using them on the road.'
The scooter was found to have three speed settings: nine, fifteen, and 28 miles per hour, the latter called 'Turbo mode,' which was active at the time of the collision. Prosecutors noted that e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads without a license and called the gift a 'failure in correct messaging.'
