Gateshead man bought car despite not having licence…

Gateshead man bought car despite not having licence and smashed into biker minutes later

A man who had no driving licence bought himself a car and smashed into a biker, causing significant injuries, merely minutes later.

Cameron Armstrong bought a black Vauxhall Astra despite having no insurance or a licence and was seen driving at speed around the streets of Gateshead as he made his way home. But minutes after setting off, the 23-year-old crashed into a motorcyclist and sent the biker flying.

The 56-year-old biker sustained nine broken ribs and a bleed on the brain but Armstrong decided to drive away from the scene. It wasn't until hours later that Armstrong handed himself in at a police station.

On Monday, Armstrong, previously of the Leam Lane Estate, Gateshead, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for charges relating to causing serious injury by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene, failing to report a collision, and driving without a licence or insurance.

The court was told that on August 12 2020, Armstrong - who had only ever passed a driving theory test - went out and bought himself a car, but was involved in a crash soon after.

Sue Hirst, prosecuting, said: "The defendant bought the vehicle minutes before the collision, he should not have been driving it. He drove the vehicle towards his home address on the Leam Lane Estate. He approached a junction with Staneway as the victim was travelling in the opposite direction towards the defendant."

The court heard that witnesses saw unemployed Armstrong driving "in excess of the speed limit" when he suddenly turned right, directly across the path of the oncoming Suzuki motorcycle. He then smashed into the bike, sending the rider into the air.

Ms Hirst continued: "The defendant did not stop, but continued to drive and left the scene...he then abandoned the vehicle. There was no attempt to check the welfare of the victim."

Staneway in Leam Lane, Gateshead (Newcastle Chronicle)

At around 5pm on the same day, Armstrong, who had previous convictions for dissimilar matters, handed himself in at Forth Banks police station and accepted that he should not have been driving. He said he "did not see" the biker, who was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle after sustaining a bleed on the brain, bleeding of the kidneys and fracturing nine ribs.

Tony Cornberg, defending, said that experts had concluded that the biker was also travelling over the 30mph speed limit on the road at the time of the crash, but said "no-one wants to blame the victim". He said Armstrong left the scene due to "panic and not knowing fully what happened".

He said: "He handed himself in, albeit a couple of hours later. His actions after the collision were miles from what they should have been. It took him two hours to come to his senses. He now lives out of the area and intends to stay out of the area. He is not involved in drugs or alcohol abuse and he's never passed a driving test and doesn't intend to drive now anyway."

Sentencing Armstrong, Recorder Thomas Moran said he had shown "relatively little empathy" and that leaving the scene was a "despicable and cowardly thing to do". He said: "You knew exactly what had happened and you were thinking of yourself."

Armstrong was given an 18 month community order and must carry out 150 hours unpaid work. He must also complete 30 rehabilitation days and was banned from driving for six months. He must also pay a £300 fine.

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