A 15-year-old boy has been spared prison after the e-scooter he was riding crashed into a car, killing his 14-year-old passenger Jacob Calland. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was riding at high speed and ran a red light before colliding with a black BMW on Southmoor Road in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on March 19, 2025.
Fatal collision on dual carriageway
Manchester Crown Court heard that the e-scooter, set to its highest speed setting of 28 mph, known as 'Turbo mode', overtook a van waiting at traffic lights and entered the dual carriageway against a red light. The driver of the BMW had less than a quarter of a second to react. Both boys were thrown into the air and struck another car. Jacob sustained a catastrophic brain injury and was airlifted to Manchester Children's Hospital, where he died on March 27 with his family by his side.
The rider had owned the e-scooter for just two weeks, having bought it with his savings. His mother purchased it for him, despite e-scooters being illegal to use on public roads without a license. Prosecutors noted a 'failure in correct messaging' regarding the legality of such vehicles.
Victim impact statement
In a victim impact statement, Jacob's mother Carly wept as she held a teddy bear containing his ashes. She said her heart had been 'smashed into a thousand pieces'. She described the moment doctors told her there was nothing more they could do: 'My world stopped. I could not stop his pain or make anything better.' She added, 'I knew e-scooters were dangerous and not suitable for children and I remember warning Jacob about them. I never thought he would lose his life on the back of one.'
The rider told police he knew red lights meant stop but 'could not remember' what colour it was, adding that 'everyone else just goes past red lights' so he thought he 'didn't have to stop'. The court heard he had no previous convictions but came from a 'troubled, traumatic, very unstable' household affected by drugs and alcohol. He was under a social services protection order at the time of the crash.
Sentencing and rehabilitation
Judge Suzanne Goddard handed the boy an 18-month youth referral order and a five-year driving ban, saying custody was not appropriate. 'Children are to be treated very differently to adults,' she said. 'The focus should be on rehabilitation and custody should be the last resort.' She noted the boy was seeking 'the thrill of riding at speed' but had not received appropriate parenting or training. She accepted he was 'deeply sorry' for causing Jacob's death.
Defence barrister James Hudson said the boy demonstrated a 'lack of awareness' but not a 'deliberate decision' to harm. He is studying for his GCSEs and has moved in with his father, who has helped turn his life around. Carly shook her head and wept as the sentence was delivered.
Police warning on e-scooters
Detective Constable Steve Pennington of Greater Manchester Police said: 'This was a tragic incident and one that was avoidable. E-scooters are not harmless toys and they can lead to horrific consequences when used by inexperienced riders and without the due care required. I would urge parents to check what their children are using and to ensure they are educated about the risks of using them on the road.'
