Aunt of 14-year-old boy who died joyriding urges North Edinburgh kids to stay away from motorbikes

The aunt of a 14-year-old North Edinburgh boy has spoken to a group of at risk teens about the dangers of joyriding motorbikes.

Brad Williamson died after a motorbike he was riding on collided with a car on Silverknowes Road last June.

His Aunt Louise Lothian spoke at Craigroyston High School in North Edinburgh to pupils. Fifty of them had been identified as being at risk of being caught up in motorbike crime.

She told of the heartbreak of losing her nephew ten months ago. She said: "He was a normal 14-year-old lad. He liked hanging out with his mates and cousins. He could also charm the girls with his chat.

"In the lead up to the accident my son Jordan had heard that he had a stolen motorbike. My son asked Brad if he had got rid of the motorbike and Brad told him yes. We now know that he went back to that motorbike.

"It was the worst night of our lives."

"On the day of the accident I was on my way home from work. I met Brad outside school and he was laughing and being a typical cheeky 14-year-old. I briefly spoke to Brad for five minutes and I asked him what he was up to. He said he was waiting for his mates. I told him to be careful and gave him a hug and he said goodbye.

"I live three minutes away from where I last saw Brad. I got home, took my jacket off, took the dog out into the garden. One of my neighbours shouted to me that Brad had had an accident. My first response was it cant be Brad, I just saw him five minutes ago. That's how quickly it happens.

"Brad was taken straight to the Royal Infirmary and put into an induced coma. He was then moved to the Sick Kids hospital where neurosurgeons started operating on his brain. For the next nine hours they couldn't control the blood loss from his brain. It was the worst night of all of our lives.

"My family doesn't want to see another family go through this."

"Then the consultant came in in the morning and broke the news that they could do no more for Brad as his injuries were too severe. We then had a two hour period to say goodbye to our beloved Brad before he passed away.

"The long-term impact on my family is not over by a long shot. My son Jordan blames himself as he knew about the motorbike and he didn't stop him going back on it. He now has to live with that guilt for the rest of his live.

"How would your Mum feel? How would you brother, your sister feel if that was you? My family doesn't want to see any other family go through this."