A 24-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including two broken tibias, a broken kneecap, a collapsed lung, and a cracked head, after being thrown from an off-road bike he had purchased just minutes before the crash.
Lewis Stobbs appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court for sentencing on Thursday, where the court heard he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from similar circumstances in which he was a victim and a close friend lost their life.
Collision details
Prosecutor Jake Bowman told the court that Cleveland Police received a report of a road traffic collision at approximately 7.30pm on Marsh House Avenue, Billingham, on April 11. Witnesses stated they had observed Stobbs performing a "wheelie" on the off-road bike moments before the crash.
Mr Bowman added that the impact caused Stobbs to "fly off the bike", while also causing considerable damage to the car. He further noted that Stobbs was "travelling at speed", had no third-party insurance, and both tyres were worn below the legal tread depth.
The court heard that the airbags were triggered in the car Stobbs collided with, and its door had to be removed by emergency services following the "highly dangerous manoeuvre". At the time of the incident, Cleveland Police confirmed that the male driver of the grey Peugeot sustained whiplash and was assessed at James Cook University Hospital before being discharged, reports Teesside Live.
Defence and sentencing
Stobbs, of Station Road, Billingham, had previously admitted to dangerously riding an off-road motorbike and operating a vehicle without third-party insurance. Defence solicitor Syed Ahmed informed the court that Stobbs had bought the bike "minutes before".
"He was trying to take the bike away from the scene," Mr Ahmed stated, adding that Stobbs "accepts speeding" and "lost control" of the bike. Mr Ahmed also relayed that Stobbs described the crash as "stupid" and said "there was no need" for it.
Mr Ahmed further informed the court that Stobbs, who came into court using a crutch, continues to receive medical attention and is awaiting scan results to determine whether there are any "lasting effects" from the collision. "I anticipate he has learnt his lesson from this offence," Mr Ahmed said. "He knows how stupid he has been."
Judge Hamilton informed the court that Stobbs suffers from PTSD following a separate incident involving "someone else driving on the wrong side of the road", which resulted in a crash and the death of his friend. The judge described it as "unbelievable" that Stobbs had driven in the very same manner that had originally caused his PTSD.
Penalty
Stobbs received a 12-month community order, suspended for 18 months, alongside a mandatory probation requirement. The court also noted that this marked the third occasion on which Stobbs had faced prosecution for driving without insurance.
Stobbs was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £272.
