Men from Rainham, Romford and Upminster plead guilty to part in illegal motorbike street race crash
Basildon Crown Court in Essex. Photo: PA Archive/PA Images/ Chris Radburn - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Men from Rainham, Romford, and Upminster have all pleaded guilty to their part in a serious crash at an illegal motorbike street race that left a woman with life-changing injuries.
A group of motorcycle, moped and quadbike riders along with many spectators, met at the Manorway in Corringham on the evening of June 14, 2017.
At around 9pm Billy Boom, who was riding a black Yamaha TMax moped on false plates performing a wheelie, struck another motorcycle, a green Kawasaki KX 125.
In the moments after the collision, members of the group – Daniel Trott, Michael Holmes, Nicholas Morris, and Sonny Waites – began to clear up the scene.
Boom was put on the back of a quadbike which then rode off from the area while his moped was put in the back of a van which also then drove off.
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The rider of the Kawasaki, a woman in her 20s, suffered serious injuries including having to have her left leg amputated above the knee.
Boom, 24, of New Zealand Way, Rainham, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, failing to report a collision, driving with no insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence at a hearing in August 2018.
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Morris, 23, of Kings Park, Canvey Island, Holmes, 27, of Penrith Road, Romford, Trott, 26, of Lambs Lane South, Rainham, and Waites, 19, of Upminster Road North, Rainham were all charged with assisting an offender and initially pleaded not guilty.
However, they changed their plea today (Monday, February 11) prior to the start of their trial at Basildon Crown Court.
Senior investigating officer Sgt Peter Swan, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “Billy Boom’s dangerous riding has left the victim with injuries which will affect her for the rest of her life.
“The calculated actions of Morris, Holmes, Trott, and Waites clearly showed their main priority was removing evidence from the scene, rather than the welfare of the victim.
“That is not only unlawful, but reprehensible behaviour.
“This collision shows that unauthorised events like these – illegal cruising and street racing – are dangerous and can have devastating consequences.
“I want to praise the victim’s bravery throughout this process and hope these convictions will provide her with some solace.”
All five men are due to be sentenced on Friday, March 15.
