The American accused of causing serious injury to two teenagers in a collision outside a Harrogate school is chief of the space policy division for the US joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon.

The joint chiefs of staff consists of the most senior leaders in the United States Department of Defense, who advise the president.

Benjamin Oakes, 46, of Tewit Well Avenue, Harrogate, is a highly decorated colonel in the US military, according to his LinkedIn profile, which was taken down before yesterday's hearing.

The profile said he has held his current role, which involves directing space policy for the joint chiefs of staff at the Pentagon in Washington, for more than four years.

He was previously a political-military analyst in the space policy division and before that was commander of the operational support squadron in the US Airforce.

Hundreds of US military personnel are stationed at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate.

Mr Oakes pleaded not guilty yesterday to causing serious injury to two teenagers in a collision outside a Harrogate school.

He is charged with causing injury by careless or inconsiderate driving in the incident on Yew Tree Lane on February 2.

The court heard the two 15-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered serious injuries in the collision outside Ashville College.

Both he and magistrates opted not to send the case to crown court, where he would have faced a jury trial.

The trial will be heard a York Magistrates Court, provisionally on December 4 and 5.

Mr Oakes was released on unconditional bail.

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