Motorbike rider crashed into Hartlepool mum's car as she stood just feet away with her toddler son

A dangerous motorbike rider has had his machine taken away after crashing into a woman’s car just feet away from her and her toddler.
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Harley Donley, 19, collided with the mum’s vehicle in a quiet Hartlepool cul-de-sac but failed to stop and just pushed the bike away.

Shortly after he tried to give police the slip, narrowly missing other pedestrians.

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Donley, who was riding the motorbike without insurance, was banned for a year when he was sentenced for the incident at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, November 23.

Harley Donley rode his motorbike dangerously in the Witlshire Way area of Hartlepool in April this year. Picture: Google.Harley Donley rode his motorbike dangerously in the Witlshire Way area of Hartlepool in April this year. Picture: Google.
Harley Donley rode his motorbike dangerously in the Witlshire Way area of Hartlepool in April this year. Picture: Google.

Describing the offences which happened just before 4pm on April 27 Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said: “He swerved initially to avoid one car and then collided with the witness’s parked car as she was stood nearby.

"She was stood with her son about two feet away from the collision. In the aftermath he simply got up, tried to restart the bike and pushed the bike away without a word to the victim.”

The quick-thinking mum took a picture of Donley and contacted the police. Officers saw him restart the bike and ride off along Glastonbury Walk, off Wiltshire Way where Mr Soppitt said he ‘narrowly missed a number of pedestrians’.

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Donley lost the police briefly by riding through some pedestrian barriers and over some grass before they caught up with him when he appeared intoxicated.

He later admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to give a sample and having no insurance.

The court heard he had bought the motorbike two days earlier for £250.

Donley, of Bruce Crescent, Hartlepool, had no previous convictions but a pre-sentence report described him as immature.

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Stephen Constantine, defending, said he had a potential job offer at a Hartlepool factory if he was not jailed.

Mr Constantine said: “You are dealing with a 19-year-old who’s learned a very salutary lesson.

"Whether that’s right or not is for him to prove.”

Judge Howard Crowson said: “The report speaks of lack of maturity but actually what happened that day was you rode in a very, very foolish way that could have caused a lot of harm.”

He made a deprivation order for Donley’s motorbike and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

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Donley was also given a two-year community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity days.

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