Teenage E-Bike Rider Sentenced to 18 Months for Critically Injuring Child

A teenage e-bike rider has been sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders' institution for causing serious injury by dangerous driving after hitting a seven-year-old boy who was crossing the road. The incident occurred on June 10 last year in Christchurch, Dorset.

Callean Wyburn, 18, who was 17 at the time of the offense, was riding with two friends on electric motorcycles when they approached a pelican crossing. Witnesses reported the group weaving through traffic and driving on the wrong side of the road. Wyburn failed to stop at a red light and collided with the young boy, who was on a scooter with his mother.

The child sustained severe facial injuries, including a lost tooth, a fractured jaw, and a permanent scar. His mother described the immediate aftermath as the boy screaming and bleeding heavily. The court heard that his injuries have required ongoing medical treatment and have significantly impacted his daily life and that of his family.

After the collision, Wyburn did not check on the injured child. He refused to remove his helmet, provided a false name, and fled the scene on his unregistered bike, despite attempts by members of the public to stop him. He surrendered to police the following day.

Wyburn pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as driving without a license or insurance. His actions were characterized in court as "completely reckless, stupid, unthinking and immature."

During sentencing, Judge Brian Forster described the case as a "tragedy for everyone" and emphasized that the severity of the offense warranted an immediate custodial sentence. Wyburn was also disqualified from driving for two years upon his release and will need to pass an extended retest.

Wyburn's defense attorney noted his client's remorse and stated that he had panicked after the accident. The court was informed that Wyburn had a difficult background, including time in the care system, but had been making progress and doing well in college. The defense argued that a prison sentence could expose him to negative influences.

The judge acknowledged Wyburn's difficult past but stated that the circumstances of the collision were too serious to suspend the sentence.