Two 15-year-old e-bike riders sentenced after serious injury to cyclist in Thornaby
Two teenagers on Sur-Ron e-bikes hit a 46-year-old cyclist in Thornaby on 31 January, leaving him with life-changing injuries. Both pleaded guilty and were disqualified from driving; the outlets differ on the sentencing date and some details.
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The story, neutrally told
Two 15-year-old boys riding off-road electric bikes hit a 46-year-old cyclist on Thorntree Road in Thornaby on 31 January. Daily MailR “Shortly before 2pm, the pair attempted to overtake a car on Thorntree Road but instead struck the cyclist travelling in the opposite direction.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ MetroLC “The 15-year-old boy crashed into the 46-year-old cyclist in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, on January 31.” Read at Metro ↗ CCTV showed the pair doing wheelies and riding at speed without helmets before the collision. Daily MailR “Neither teen was wearing a helmet or protective clothing on the powerful e-bikes.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ MetroLC “They were seen riding on pavements and popping wheelies without helmets in the lead-up to the devastating collision.” Read at Metro ↗ The victim, a father of seven, remains in hospital with life-changing injuries; Metro says he needs around-the-clock care eight months on. MetroLC “remains in hospital receiving around-the-clock care eight months on” Read at Metro ↗ Daily MailR “He remains in hospital receiving treatment for his life-changing injuries.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
One rider fled, and the Daily Mail reports he later came back and removed the second bike; it says police identified him from fingerprints left on a van. Daily MailR “Police were able to track down and identify the uninjured e-bike rider through fingerprints he left on the handle of a van as he fled the scene.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Both teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty and were disqualified from driving and given youth referrals. Daily MailR “Both were disqualified from driving, ordered to pay £495 in compensation and were handed a youth referral order.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ MetroLC “A judge disqualified them both from driving, and each of them received a Youth Offending Team referral” Read at Metro ↗ Metro lists separate charges, including perverting the course of justice and drug possession for the second rider. MetroLC “was charged with perverting the course of justice, possession of a class B drug, driving without a licence or insurance and driving dangerously.” Read at Metro ↗
Detective Constable Nichola Lamport of Cleveland Police said the injuries would affect the victim and his family for the foreseeable future; in Metro she said police were disappointed with the sentence. Daily MailR “has suffered significant life-changing injuries which will affect him and his family for the foreseeable future.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ MetroLC “said she was disappointed with the sentence following the case.” Read at Metro ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Metro leads on an 'illegal e-bike' and the victim's ongoing care needs, and stresses police disappointment at the sentence.
- Emphasis
- Charges against each teen, the victim's around-the-clock care, and the detective's criticism of the sentence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the fingerprint identification or that the teens refused to comment in interview.
- Charged language
- “illegal e-bike”“devastating collision”
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Daily Mail presents dramatic CCTV of 'joyriding balaclava-clad' teens and a violent collision.
- Emphasis
- Footage details, the teens' reckless riding, the fingerprint arrest and the sentence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the police disappointment with the sentence or the individual charges such as perverting the course of justice.
- Charged language
- “joyriding balaclava-clad teenage e-bikers”“smashing into him at high speed”
- For example
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“This is the moment two balaclava-clad teens on e-bikes slammed into a father-of-seven, sending him flying from his bike and causing life-changing injuries.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- The collision happened on 31 January on Thorntree Road, Thornaby.
- Both riders were 15 at the time and rode without helmets.
- The victim is a 46-year-old father of seven with life-changing injuries.
- Both riders pleaded guilty and were disqualified from driving, with youth referrals.
- Detective Constable Nichola Lamport of Cleveland Police commented.
Where accounts differ
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Sentencing date
- Left
- Metro says the pair were sentenced on September 2.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says they pleaded guilty on September 23 at Teesside Magistrates Court.
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Compensation
- Left
- Metro says one of them must pay £495.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says both were ordered to pay £495.
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Location
- Left
- Metro places Thornaby in North Yorkshire.
- Right
- The Daily Mail places it in Teesside.
Thornaby place
Thornaby is the location of the collision; the outlets differ on whether it is in Teesside or North Yorkshire.
“speeding along public roads on Sur-Ron bikes in Thornaby, Teesside” — Daily Mail
“Thornaby, North Yorkshire” — Metro
Left1 article
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MetroLC ·
Teen on illegal e-bike hits man leaving him with life-changing injuries
Critical Focuses on the illegal bike, the victim's care needs and police disappointment at the sentence.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Alarmist Dramatic CCTV-led account stressing the teens' reckless riding and flight, and the police investigation.
- 30 Sep 08:12 First Daily MailR Moment joyriding balaclava-clad teenage e-bikers leave father-of-seven with life-changing injuries after smashing into him at high speed
- 30 Sep 19:05 +10h 53m MetroLC Teen on illegal e-bike hits man leaving him with life-changing injuries
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.