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20
Feb
Drunk motorcyclist who ‘did wheelies’ on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate left two seriously injured
Two women were left seriously injured last year after a drunk motorcyclist ploughed into them on Knaresborough Road in Harrogate.
Lawrence Hayward, 20, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (February 19) charged with four offences: one count of drink-driving, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and one count of criminal damage.
He admitted all the charges.
Prosecutor Sarah Tyrer told the court Hayward “chose to ride an unregistered off-road motorbike” on Knaresborough Road at around 11.40am on Saturday, June 28.
After being seen driving the motorbike in a “very poor fashion” that morning, the defendant proceeded to “do wheelies” along the road.
It was then he collided with two pedestrians.
One of the named victims, a 77-year-old woman, suffered “life-changing injuries” as a result of the crash and had to be airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.
The second named victim – a woman in her 20s – required reconstructive surgery after the crash.
She lost five teeth and sustained a fractured nose and lacerations to both her legs, the court heard.
Ms Tyrer said:
Not only was the defendant driving in a stupid and very dangerous manner, he was also drunk. He recorded 135 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood [the legal limit is 80 milligrams] when he was tested quite some hours after this.
Hayward also damaged a fence at a property on Knaresborough Road that day, but the value of the damage is not known.
Ms Tyrer insisted the case be transferred to a crown court for sentence.
‘Profoundly remorseful’
Brian Nuttney, defending, did not provide any mitigation at the time.
He agreed the case should be sent to a crown court, but reminded the magistrates Hayward, of Spa Lane in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to the offences at the first opportunity.
“He is profoundly remorseful for this”, Mr Nuttney said.
The case was transferred to York Crown Court, where Hayward will be sentenced on March 20.
He was disqualified from driving in the interim and released on unconditional bail.
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