Hull grandparents ‘bowled over like skittles’ by biker crashing into them
DURING A COURT HEARING, THE JUDGE TOLD HIM: ‘IF YOU COME BACK HERE, YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE A BAG PACKED’
TWO grandparents who were innocently walking along a busy pavement after an evening Hull City football match were suddenly “bowled over like skittles” after an off-road motorcycle crashed into them from behind.
The rider, Luke Scaife, abruptly fell off his bike after being challenged by the police just seconds before he recklessly knocked the unsuspecting couple down as they walked along with their family.
It was only by pure luck that “thankfully” they suffered no serious injuries.
Scaife was having a “terrible day” and he “doesn’t know what was going through his head at the time”.
He had no idea what “possessed him” to ride the motorcycle on the footpath in the first place when so many people were around, Hull Crown Court heard.
Scaife, 25, of Morpeth Street, off Spring Bank, Hull, admitted dangerous driving, having no insurance and having the wrong class of licence on April 10.
Nigel Clive, prosecuting, said that Scaife rode an off-road motorcycle along a pavement in the busy area of Anlaby Road, west Hull, at about 10pm.
Hull City had been playing a football match that evening and the crowd was leaving the stadium. A family, including the grandparents, who had been enjoying a night out at the football, was near the flyover and walking past the bus depot.
Scaife, riding the off-road bike, came up behind the grandparents on the pavement.
“Police tried to grab hold of this defendant as he was riding through the crowds,” said Mr Clive.
“The defendant was not for stopping and he came off his motorbike a short distance there after.” Scaife went into the back of the couple.
“It was either him or the motorbike, perhaps a combination of both, that went into the back of them,” said Mr Clive.
“Both were knocked down. They were bowled over like skittles by this defendant.
“It’s through good fortune that they were not more seriously injured. This could have been a lot worse but, thankfully, it wasn’t.
“Police officers were very close by and they tried to get hold of the defendant but he ran off.
“They saw him a short distance away later.”
The speed of the bike had been estimated at between 5 and 10mph.
“One might have expected far more serious injuries if there had been a more significant speed than that,” said Mr Clive.
The two people who were hit were left shaken up.
The grandfather suffered a graze to his hip and he had a stiff neck and a sore hand from the impact of falling to the ground. His injuries were still painful.
His wife was shaken up and she later said that the consequences could have been far more severe.
“The defendant was saying in interview that he was in a bit of a mood because he was at work,” said Mr Clive.
“He wasn’t insured. He did not have a licence. He had not passed any bike training at all.
“He had the bike for off-road use only but he took it into the road, seemingly to clear his head. He seemed sorry in his interview.”
Scaife had convictions for 12 previous offences, including assaults and possessing cannabis.
He had been locked up for six months in 2021 for assaulting police, including kicking out and spitting at officers trying to arrest him.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said: “What a silly mistake this was. He has expressed his sincere remorse.
“He doesn’t know what was going through his head at the time.”
Judge Mark Bury replied: “Well, not much, obviously. I don’t know what possessed him.”
Miss Turner said: “He has realised that he needs to shake up his ideas. His appearance at this court centre has really scared the life out of him.”
Scaife had taken steps to change his life and he had given up cannabis.
He had previously worked as an electrician but now worked part-time and has a new girlfriend.
Scaife told the court: “I was just having a terrible day. “It was a big mistake and it will never happen again.
“I don’t know what was going through my head.”
Judge Bury told Scaife: “You can’t be behaving like this. You were a regular cannabis user before you got locked up last time and, while in prison, you decided to give it up. Good decision. You need to stay off it.
“You were having a bad day and then you made a foolish decision to get on your off-road bike and have a drive around.
“You came off your bike into the back of two people who were just making their way home.
“This could have been a whole lot worse.”
The couple could have banged their heads after the accident and could been left dead.
“You would be looking at a long time in jail,” said Judge Bury. “It was incredibly stupid behaviour.”
Scaife was given ten days’ rehabilitation and a thinking skills programme.
He was banned from driving for one year and he will have to pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
A deprivation order was made for the bike.
“If you come back here, you will need to have a bag packed – so don’t come back here,” said Judge Bury.
I was just having a terrible day. It was a big mistake and it will never happen again
Luke Scaife