Flintshire boy, 15, admits dangerous cycling
A 15-year-old Flintshire boy who crashed into a holidaymaker on his BMX bike, knocking her unconscious, has admitted a charge of dangerous cycling.
A youth court at Mold heard no brakes were fitted to the bike he used for stunts and tricks.
Several people jumped out of the way as the boy, who cannot be named, rode on a bridle path in Caerwys before he hit the 56-year-old woman.
He was fined £100 and ordered to pay £200 compensation to his victim.
Prosecutor Alun Humphreys told Flintshire magistrates that the woman, Michelle Dowsett, was from the Liverpool area but had a holiday caravan at Caerwys.
She and six other people were walking along a bridle path off Ffordd Pen y Cefn when the head-on-crash occurred in July this year.
Mrs Dowsett was thrown into the air, landed face down on the ground, and an ambulance took her to Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan where she remained for four days following complications.
She had a cut above the eye and injuries to her abdomen and to her thumb.
She suffered headaches for several weeks afterwards together with flashbacks.
The court heard the boy had picked up his bike and appeared to try and leave the scene but was detained.
The bike had no brakes whatsoever and the boy agreed that he had previously been warned by local police of the dangers of riding it in such a condition.
The court heard that his mother had since taken the bike off him.
In mitigation Dafydd Roberts said that the boy was remorseful and apologetic and was tearful at the scene.
He was on his way to practise stunts on his BMX bike with a friend when the incident occurred.
The boy was travelling downhill, around a bend, when he was came across the pedestrians.
The court heard there were no brakes because they would impede the stunts and tricks that he used the bike for.
The charge of dangerous cycling is covered by the 1988 Road Traffic Act.