UK NEWS

MOTORBIKE HORROR

Friday September 5,2008

By David Scott

Two teenagers who injured seven people when their motorbike crashed into a crowd during a parade were yesterday detained for a total of five years.

The bikers careered into onlookers at Aber-deen’s annual student Torcher Parade in April.

Lewis Westlake-Tritton, 17, who was at the controls, earlier admitted driving the bike erratically. Graeme Hunter, 18, was found guilty of culpable and reckless conduct.

Westlake-Tritton and Hunter were detained for three and two years respectively at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

A number of people suffered serious injuries which are likely to cause them difficulties for a lengthy period of time

Sheriff Graeme Buchanan

The court heard Westlake-Tritton had taken sleeping tablets and vodka.

Sheriff Graeme Buchanan said anyone who had seen a CCTV video of the incident would have been “shocked and horrified”.

He added: “A number of people suffered serious injuries which are likely to cause them difficulties for a lengthy period of time.”

The Honda 125 raced through Aberdeen’s streets with police cars in pursuit on April 26. The trial heard it hit the side of a van and ploughed into the crowd.

The motorbike landed on an 11-year-old boy, leaving him badly hurt, while others were knocked to the ground.

Hunter had claimed he was a passenger and could not be held accountable for the driver’s actions.

Hunter sat in the middle of the bike with another youth, who cannot be named, at the back.

The trio did dangerous U-turns and drove into oncoming traffic.

Westlake-Tritton was also disqualified from driving for five years. Hunter was disqualified for three years.

Sheriff Buchanan accepted Hunter had little control over the driver’s actions but said that he was acting along with Westlake-Tritton.

Subsequent cancellation of the parade cost charities £10,000 in donations, it was estimated.