Man jailed for hitting teenagers with motorbike
Nathan Cooper was jailed for four years and three months after pleading guilty to a series of assault and driving offences
- Published
A man who crashed a motorbike into a group of young children, while under the influence of drink and drugs, has been jailed for four years and three months.
Nathan Cooper pleaded guilty to a series of assault and driving offences at Southampton Crown Court after he drove his motorbike into a group of girls on 23 June.
The family of a 13-year-old girl who was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries said, "no prison sentence can ever truly reflect the devastation and trauma" the incident had caused.
Police Staff Investigator Mark Furse revealed Cooper had deliberately tried to frighten the girls by driving toward them, saying it was "a miracle nobody was killed".
Cooper, 40, from Cooper Road in Rye, East Sussex, had been seen "showing off" on his bike at Test Park Sports Ground in Millbrook, Southampton, where a group of six teenage girls were socialising.
Witnesses said his 11-year-old daughter was on board as he rode directly at the group.
During the trial the court heard one of the girls told Cooper to stop before he tried to go through the middle of the group, colliding with two of the girls.
WATCH: The moment Nathan Cooper speeds through a group of teenagers on his motorbike
A 14-year-old girl from Southampton suffered minor injuries.
The family of the 13-year-old girl said their daughter was left "fighting for her life" and was still being rehabilitated.
In a statement released after the sentence was delivered, her family said they welcomed the decision but wanted to say that "no prison sentence can ever truly reflect the devastation and trauma that this has caused to ourselves, and our families".
The family thanked the police for their support. They also praised the "incredible" Air Ambulance team along with the paediatric surgeon Nigel Hall and the staff at Southampton General Hospital "who saved, cared for, and continue to rehabilitate our beautiful daughter".
Analysis of Cooper's breath and blood determined that he was over the drink drive limit, and the specified limit for cannabis, at the time of the collision.
Cooper pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving, drug driving, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Get in touch
Do you have a story BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight should cover?
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external.