Thieves ram teen off bike, jailed for attack

Source: warringtonguardian.co.uk

TL;DR

• Teen Bike Attack: A 16-year-old boy was rammed off his motorbike by thieves in an Audi, knocked unconscious with a broken wrist and concussion.
• Prison Sentences: Lewis Hoadley got 58 months; Alex Miller received 9 months at Liverpool Crown Court.
• Victim Trauma: Boy suffers ongoing PTSD, anxiety, nightmares, and financial loss from bike damage and missed work.

The story at a glance

Lewis Hoadley and Alex Miller rammed a 16-year-old boy off his motorbike in Sankey Bridges around midnight on January 30 last year, leaving him unconscious so they could steal it. Hoadley drove the Audi while disqualified and on drugs; Miller tried but failed to start the bike. They were arrested soon after and sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday. The case is reported now due to their recent jailing.

Key points

• Incident occurred on Thornton Road when headlights chased the boy through a red light before deliberate ramming.
• Victim trapped unconscious between Audi and parked car, with broken wrist, concussion, cuts, bruises, and later hip injury needing physiotherapy.
• Miller exited car, ignored boy, tried to steal bike but failed; police arrested him at scene, found Hoadley hiding under nearby car.
• Audi had false plates (real ones in boot), Hoadley drove disqualified without insurance, tested positive roadside for cannabis and cocaine but refused custody sample.
• Victim's statement: anxiety, nightmares, PTSD, vulnerability on bike, months in cast, unable to attend college, work, or gym; bike damage cost £1,000.
• Hoadley (28, 14 prior convictions) admitted attempted robbery, dangerous driving, GBH without intent, plus driving offences.
• Miller (33, 11 prior convictions) admitted attempted theft; judge called his actions callous disregard.

Details and context

The boy rode home when the Audi, with Hoadley driving and three others inside, chased and rammed him deliberately. Miller passed the unconscious victim without helping and tried starting the bike.

Hoadley has a suspended sentence for affray from September 2023, breached here; defence cited his health issues, troubled background, remorse, and mechanic training plans. Miller's last offence was cannabis possession in 2021; defence sought suspended sentence due to remorse, job as landscape gardener, and housing risk.

Recorder Martine Snowdon said the incident was terrifying and could have caused death; immediate jail was required for punishment.

Key quotes

• Victim: “The incident has caused me anxiety and stress. I stay awake at night reliving it, and I have nightmares when I do sleep about being knocked off.”
• Recorder Martine Snowdon: “This was a terrifying incident that could have resulted in far more grave injury if not death.”

Why it matters

Roadside robberies like this show how thieves target bikes with violence, endangering young riders. Victims face lasting physical injuries, mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and financial hits from repairs and lost work. Watch for sentencing appeals or similar local cases, though outcomes depend on courts.

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