Quad bike rider put child passenger in danger

John Grey admitted offences including dangerous driving

A "dreadful" dangerous driver whose offences included a 90mph police pursuit and racing a quad bike around a park with a child on board has been jailed.

A Teesside Crown Court judge said few people would have been too concerned if John Grey, 27, had broken his neck, but he put his two year-old passenger in danger when driving around a Stockton park.

Grey, who was already banned from driving, later led police on a high-speed pursuit down the A19, the court heard.

Grey was jailed for 32 months after admitting offences including dangerous driving. Two co-defendants Daniel Madden, 29, and Damian Calvert, 21, were also sentenced for their involvement in driving offences.

Calvert, of no fixed abode, who was also banned from driving at the time, was riding a quad bike around a park on 10 January 2023 in wet conditions, cutting up the turf, the court heard.

Grey, of Temple Court in Stockton, took over the machine and placed a two-year-old child on board before carrying out a series of dangerous manoeuvres at speed, Judge Jonathan Carroll said.

'Wet and slippy'

"You were not wearing safety gear, that was your risk to take," the judge told Grey.

"If you had broken your neck, I very much doubt too many people would have been too concerned."

But the child was also not wearing any protective equipment while Grey "drove dangerously around the park" including "zigzagging between trees", the judge said.

He said Grey then "refused to take the slightest bit of personal responsibility" for endangering the child, Judge Carroll said.

Grey's friend Madden, of Newton Walk in Stockton, arrived on a motorbike and rode around, including pulling wheelies, with the child on board in "wet and slippy conditions", the court heard.

All three men had caused a large amount of damage to the park with their riding, the judge said.

Daniel Madden admitted dangerous driving

On another occasion, Grey led police on a pursuit down the A19 and across Teesside, reaching more than 90mph and colliding with other vehicles before crashing, the court heard.

Judge Carroll said Grey, who used a lay-by to undertake vehicles during the pursuit, had a "dreadful" record of driving offences

Calvert also led police on a separate pursuit, travelling at more than 50mph in 30mph residential streets and more than 90mph on a 40mph road through Portrack Industrial Estate, the court heard.

Calvert, who admitted offences including careless driving and driving while disqualified, was given a suspended one-year jail term with 180 hours unpaid work, £400 fine and £100 compensation for the park damage.

Madden, who admitted dangerous driving and criminal damage, was jailed for a year.

All three men were also banned from driving for two years, with Grey's increased by 16 months and Madden's for six months to reflect the time they will likely spend in prison, and must each pass extended driving tests.