Man spared jail after two-year-old suffered fractured skull and bleed on the brain in electric unicycle collision on Felixstowe seafront

A man who was involved in a collision with a child in Felixstowe while riding an electric unicycle by the seafront has been given a suspended sentence and a driving ban after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving.

Police were called at 11.42am on Sunday 3 November last year to reports of a collision on the Promenade involving a two-year-old child and a man riding a single-wheeled electric scooter-type vehicle.

The two-year-old child was taken to hospital where it was found she had suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. The child is believed to have made a full recovery but continues to undergo tests to ensure there is no further or lasting injuries as a result.

Following an investigation by officers, the rider, Andrew Wickenden, 50, of Old Norwich Road, Ipswich, was subsequently charged with causing serious injury by careless driving, no insurance and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

Witness evidence and CCTV footage showed that Wickenden was riding the electrically powered unicycle, which was not insured or registered, and not for use on public roads or spaces, along the promenade, with a loud-speaker playing.

The defendant had been seen on CCTV weaving in and out of pedestrians and up and down steps, before he has collided with a two-year old child on the promenade when she was playing with her family.

Due to the type of vehicle involved, officers sought further advice from City of London Police, due to the issues they had faced related to e-scooters.

A mechanical exam was also completed by Suffolk and Norfolk’s Forensic Mechanical Vehicle Examiner PC Mark Carter who concluded the vehicle was extremely hard to control without good skills, that it could achieve high speeds for prolonged distances and was intended for use on road networks in countries that permitted such vehicles on the road network.

During the investigation the defendant was invited to attend an interview, and in a prepared statement, stated: “She veered to her right and ran into the side of me causing me to fall off onto the floor.”

Despite this, Wickenden pleaded guilty to all offences when he appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 23 May.

He appeared today, Friday 27 June, at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to 14-weks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £239.

In a victim impact statement that was read out in the court, the mother of the victim said: “As a parent the last thing you ever want is to hear your child is in pain and suffering, especially from something so careless and preventable. At the hospital she wasn't the bubbly, energetic girl she usually is. Covered in her own sick due to the accident and head to toe in bruises and scrapes.

“Seeing my daughter in a situation that I couldn't prevent was heartbreaking. Hearing the diagnosis of a fractured skull and brain bleed and knowing there was absolutely nothing I could do to repair it.

“Once discharged from the hospital, the stress and anxiety on my behalf grew. I couldn't sleep without her being close to me, I endured nightmares.

“I began to be very cautious with her, I lived in a constant state of stress and panic. Our daily routine of nursery, play dates and soft play outings had to stop immediately due to the risk of further injury. She couldn't be around other children as their actions towards her could be unpredictable. A once very active and busy child who now had to stay in the house. This resulted in a lot of confusion and sadness as she wasn't able to enjoy what she used to.

“Once she returned to nursery, she had to wear a soft helmet. Outdoor time at nursery was also limited as there was a new play area built which she was not allowed to use. This resulted in her being upset and unsure as to why she couldn't do what her friends were doing, something you cannot explain to a two-year-old.

“She is currently still undergoing a range of tests such as eye and hearing tests to ensure nothing has been damaged. The daily worry of what could happen as she grows is frightening, the unknown of how much this has truly affected her.

“The emotional distress we have gone through as a family in such a small amount of time is awful. A feeling me, and my children, will never forget.”

PC Will Hudson, of the Roads and Armed Policing Team based at Martlesham, was the officer in the case for the collision. He said: “This was a unique and complex investigation, due to the type of vehicle involved, which sadly should never had occurred. The victim was innocently playing with her family on the promenade, and her whole life may have changed as a result of the collision. The defendant at the time of the collision showed little remorse, and refused to answer any questions in interview.

“This collision highlights the dangers of using these types of vehicles in public spaces and the risk involved.

“This case shows the importance of knowing and following the rules around motorised vehicles and where and when they can be ridden.

“Thankfully the young victim was physically okay, but the incident had a huge emotional impact on the little girl and her family.

“Quite simply Wickenden shouldn't have been riding this vehicle, let alone on a busy pedestrianised seaside promenade. The fact he tried to excuse himself straight after the incident was deplorable, especially against the CCTV footage of his riding manner. Hopefully Wickenden will take a long hard look at his actions on the day and realise his behaviour could have had fatal consequences.

“It is also a lesson to others that ride illegal motorised vehicles without insurance in busy pedestrian areas.

“The victim may have ongoing health implications due to the collision, and I credit the family’s support of the police with this collision.”

A/Insp Matt Dale, the senior investigating officer for the incident, added: “This was an unusual incident where a child had suffered serious injuries as a result of a lack of due care from the defendant, riding a vehicle that is not legal on our roads or public spaces.

“This matter was easily preventable and could have had resulted in a fatal outcome. This should be a lesson to any person who possesses an e-scooter, electric unicycle or similar vehicle to ensure they know the law in relation to their use and to ride them legally in suitable private spaces with due care.”