A MAN who killed a teenage motorbike rider after embarking on a “senseless” late-night pursuit after his brother’s vehicle had been stolen has been given a prison sentence.
Brandon Glover pleaded guilty to causing the death of 17-year-old Harley Lea by dangerous driving in the crash on Park Road, Blackbrook in the early hours of October 4, 2022.
A Toyota Corolla Glover was driving collided with two motorbikes, a Benelli and a Honda.
Following a trial in March this year, Glover had been cleared of a murder charge in relation to Harley’s death and of further counts of manslaughter, two of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and two of attempted GBH with intent.
Prosecuting at Wednesday’s sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, Clare Thomas, said that Harley, who was riding the Honda “suffered catastrophic injuries” in the crash and died. Meanwhile passengers Jordan Carter and Louis Coleman were seriously injured.
Alexander Owen and Harley’s brother Leeland Lea, who were on the Benelli, avoided serious injury and ran away.
Glover, of Pasture Close, Clock Face, also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Jordan Carter and Louis Coleman.
Ms Thomas told the court the “genesis of this incident” was when Glover’s brother Benjamin, who lived with his mother in Parr, had his bike stolen from the front garden that night.
At around 11.45pm on October 3, his mother saw a “group of males pushing her son's motorbike away”.
The theft was reported to police and Benjamin called his brother and the two went to see if they could find these youths and the bike.
After trying the “immediate area without success” they “came upon two bikes, the Honda and Benelli” and went on to “follow them”.
The pursuit took in a housing estate in Fingerpost before bollards blocked Glover’s path. After reversing out of the estate, he saw the two motorbikes again and followed them.
The pursuit culminated in the crash on Park Road, close to the junction with Boardmans Lane.
Ms Thomas said experts assessed that Glover had been driving at between 69mph and 77mph on Park Road during the pursuit. Despite applying the breaks as the bikes approached the junction, due to his speed Glover was “unable to stop to avoid” the collision.
The Benelli was travelling at between 41 and 47mph and the Honda between 34 and 39mph.
CCTV footage was played to the court of the collision.
The Toyota collided with the Benelli near the junction with Boardmans Lane. Its rider Alexander Owen and passenger Leeland Lea, Harley's brother, left on foot having avoided any serious injuries.
Glover’s car then collided into the back of the Honda.
Harley died immediately as result of “catastrophic injuries” after being knocked off his bike and into the railings.
Passenger Jordan Carter sustained injuries including a double leg break, while Louis Coleman suffered numerous fractures, including to his pelvis, spine, legs and elbow.
Glover had “phoned emergency services” and “remained at the scene” after the crash.
In a police interview after his arrest, Glover said he had been “driving at around 40mph” and “hit something on the road, an unknown object”. It was said to the court during Glover’s trial that somebody was "waving" cutters at Glover during the pursuit, "taunting him".
Defending Glover during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Stanley Reiz KC, said his 25-year-old client had “no previous convictions” and he "deeply regretted his actions".
Mr Reiz said: "This was an accident caused by Brandon Glover's reckless and criminal behaviour, but it was nevertheless not deliberate and that is an important point to bear in mind."
He added: "He (Glover) was reacting to what the motor vehicles ahead of him were doing. They too were driving in excess of the speed limit”.
Mr Reiz said Glover's vehicle was “quite some distance behind them and he increased his speed to try and catch up”.
He said that “was completely wrong, and the consequences are quite clear to everyone.
"He has accepted responsibility for making that misjudgement. He did not have time to stop when the bike slowed down at the lights.”
Mr Reiz described his client as “someone who would never dream of committing a criminal offence but has committed a serious one, leading to a significant sentence of imprisonment”.
Mr Reiz said Glover was going “faster than he thought he was going” and was “an inexperienced driver” who passed his test six months earlier.
He said “in the heat of the moment, he got carried away.
"He simply did not appreciate quite how fast he was going. Had he realised, it may have startled him into applying the brakes much sooner than he did.
"This was a momentary lapse on his part, an over-exuberance which led to the most tragic of consequences”.
Passing sentence on Wednesday, judge Nicholas Barker said the youths on the bikes “had the misfortune to be seen” by Glover, who embarked on what he considered a “senseless” and “dangerous” pursuit.
He said: "Harley Lea was 17, he was out that night to have some fun with his friends and brother, they did not steal your brother's bike, they weren't driving in such a way as to attract your attention."
The judge added: “You were in a heightened state perhaps exacerbated by the prospect of pursuit with your adrenaline running high."
He said he found it “hard to accept” the claim Glover wasn’t aware the youths were not wearing helmets.
The judge said: “You knew there were at least two on each bike, it must have been obvious to you that they were vulnerable and by your pursuit you were causing a danger to them.”
The judge added he “didn’t accept” the submission Glover’s actions were “justified”.
He said Glover and his brother, who was a passenger in the Toyota, were “victims of a theft” and “were entitled to discover what had occurred".
He added: "However, I don’t consider that you were entitled to pursue these bikes in a residential area at night."
He accepted Glover was “genuinely remorseful” for what he did.
Glover, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing Harley’s death.
He was given sentences of 45 months and 35 months for the counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, to be served concurrently.
Glover must serve two-thirds (80 months) of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.
He was disqualified from driving for six years, in addition to the 80 months he will spend in jail.
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