A man who flipped a quad bike over while doing “doughnuts in a Perth quarry has been told to compensate the child he left needing airlifted to hospital with severe injuries.
The 14-year-old victim was flown from to Ninewells Hospital, being transferred to Edinburgh for further treatment.
Nike McAnespie, 38, was ordered to pay £1,500 compensation and carry out 300 hours unpaid work in the community as an alternative to prison.
He was placed under social work supervision for 15 months but was not banned from driving because a sheriff ruled the off-road stunt in 2021 did not reflect his normal behaviour on public roads.
Sheriff Alison McKay said: “This is a very difficult case because the context is that a young boy was very, very seriously injured because of you.
“On the other hand, you and your pal were mucking about and he and his pal were mucking about – that’s what boys seem to like to do.
“Nobody is going to a quarry to drive a quad bike carefully.
“The level of dangerousness puts you at the threshold of custody. Everyone was very lucky that he made the good recovery he did.
“I’m not going to disqualify you from driving. I don’t think that would benefit anyone.
“There is no suggestion you drive inappropriately on the public road or that you are a danger to the public at large when you are driving.”
Flipped quad bike
McAnespie, from Larkhall, admitted acting in a culpable and reckless manner and severely injuring the boy, now 18, at Friarton Quarry on June 12 2021.
The court previously heard how the victim and friends had a mini-moto bike and met McAnespie – who was unknown to them – at the “mostly disused” quarry.
The older man allowed the child to ride on the back of his quad bike, without helmet or protective clothing.
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer said: “Whilst the complainer was on the rear of the quad bike, the accused started doing doughnuts and going up the hills.
“This resulted in it flipping over and both were thrown from the quad bike.
“An air ambulance was diverted to the scene because of the nature of (the) injuries and he was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
“Mr McAnespie was treated by paramedics for suspected broken ribs and a fractured arm.
McAnespie told the medics: “I take full responsibility. I was doing doughnuts and it flipped.”
The court was told the teenager suffered broken ribs which caused an internal puncture wound, leading to an accumulation of blood and air between the lungs and chest wall.
He had a chest drain fitted and was found to have three broken ribs as well as cuts and bruising to his arms, legs, neck and back.
“He made what could be described as a miraculous recovery,” Ms Farmer told the court.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “Mr McAnespie did not realise his age and thought he was older. He was very sorry to be the cause of these injuries.”
He said his client had acted responsibly after the accident by staying at the scene with his victim and giving emergency crews information about what happened.
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