Latest news with #KianMonks
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment e-bike rider who left woman fighting for her life after ploughing into her head-on is chased down by furious bystanders
This is the moment an e-bike rider was pursued by angry witnesses after ploughing down a woman he left battling for her life. Former footballer Kian Monks, 22, was seen cowered and bloodied after causing the injuries to 70-year-old grandmother Margaret Scaldwell in Wigan. She spent time in a coma and suffered life-changing injuries including a broken spine - and has now accused 'selfish' Monks of having 'ruined' her life. Monks has now been handed a 22-month prison sentence, after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving and driving with no licence or insurance. He was also found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision, failing to report a collision and failing to provide a specimen for analysis following a serious collision, Greater Manchester Police said. The ex-Wigan Athletic youth prospect was riding a Talaria Sting e-bike in August 2023 when colliding with Ms Scaldwell on Orell Road in the Greater Manchester town. Monks, then aged 19, had hit speeds of 40mph in a 30mph zone on the off-road e-bike that had its speed limiter disconnected. Ms Scaldwell was sent flying through the air by the impact and landed several metres away, with her head smashing off the pavement. She suffered a broken spine, pelvis, arms and 19 broken ribs - and has been left unable to feed herself following the sickening crash. Monks was riding the bike alongside Joel Pilling, 22, and both men fled the scene - leaving behind their victim lying in the middle of the busy A577. Video footage shows members of the public chasing and detaining Monks, while Pilling handed himself in to police later in the day. Monks is seen with blood pouring down his face, pleading innocence as he insisted: 'I wasn't driving, it wasn't me. I've hit my head. I've hurt my head and my jaw.' Monks, who had a provisional licence and no insurance, has now been sentenced for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Pilling, who owned the motorbike but held no licence, was given a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work. Both men were banned from driving at Bolton Crown Court - Monks for four years and Pilling for two. In a statement released after sentencing, Ms Scaldwell said: 'These men's selfishness have ruined my life. 'Before the collision I was an independent lady and always had a smile on my face. 'Now my life is dehumanising, reduced to a long list of hospital appointments with no end in sight and I can no longer walk wash or feed myself. 'No sentence will bring back my health. But I will not let them beat me as I am determined to recover the best I can.' The Talaria Sting off-road bike is marketed at a cost of £3,795 and is considered a motor vehicle under the law, requiring an insurance and licence to use on-road - while having a top speed of 47mph, with a range of 63 miles. Det Const Steve Pennington, of Greater Manchester Police, said after the case: 'This was a shocking incident where two individuals recklessly rode an e-bike through one of Wigan's busiest areas with complete disregard for public safety. 'Their dangerous driving resulted in a horrific collision with a grandmother who was simply crossing the road. 'She suffered life-changing injuries and spent weeks in a coma - it's nothing short of miraculous that she survived. 'This incident highlights the severe consequences of operating e-bikes illegally on our roads. 'These aren't toys - they're powerful vehicles that require proper licensing, safety equipment, and responsible handling. 'Riding without these essentials isn't just breaking the law - it's putting lives at risk. 'At GMP we're committed to reducing serious and fatal collisions across our region. 'We actively support national road safety initiatives like the Fatal 4 campaign, targeting the four main causes of serious road incidents: speeding, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, and driving under the influence.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pensioner left in pool of blood with catastrophic injuries after horror e-bike crash
An e-bike rider ploughed into a grandma while she crossed the road, causing her to spend weeks in a coma, before cowardly fleeing the scene. Former Wigan Athletic youth footballer Kian Monks left pensioner Margaret Scaldwell with severe injuries after the bike he was on with another man struck her on Orrell Road in Wigan on August 1 2023. Margaret, aged in her 60s, was propelled into the air, causing her to suffer compound fractures to her left leg, broken bones in both arms, multiple broken ribs, and severe facial injuries as a result of the impact her head had with the pavement, a court heard. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here Following the collision, both men on the bike attempted to flee the scene while being chased by brave members of the public who began filming on their mobile phones. Monks, 22, was pursued and restrained by brave witnesses, while the other rider made off on foot before handing himself in at Wigan police station later that day. Horrifying 999 audio was played out to court, with the witness heard saying: "She's in the middle of the road. There's blood everywhere." Emergency services raced to the scene and took Margaret to hospital, where she remained in a coma for weeks. Neither Monks nor the other rider called the emergency services to seek help for the victim as she lay seriously injured in the middle of the road. Greater Manchester Police said the other 22-year-old rider owned the motorbike but held no licence. Monks only had a provisional licence. Join our Court and Crime WhatsApp group HERE At Bolton Crown Court on Wednesday (July 23), Kian Monks, of The Avenue, Wigan, was jailed for two years and three months. He had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, driving with no licence or insurance. He was also found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision, failing to report a collision and failing to provide a specimen for analysis following a serious collision. Detective Constable Steve Pennington from GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "This was a shocking incident where two individuals recklessly rode an e-bike through one of Wigan's busiest areas with complete disregard for public safety. 'Their dangerous driving resulted in a horrific collision with a grandmother who was simply crossing the road. She suffered life-changing injuries and spent weeks in a coma – it's nothing short of miraculous that she survived. 'This incident highlights the severe consequences of operating e-bikes illegally on our roads. These aren't toys – they're powerful vehicles that require proper licensing, safety equipment, and responsible handling. Riding without these essentials isn't just breaking the law, it's putting lives at risk. 'At GMP we're committed to reducing serious and fatal collisions across our region. We actively support national road safety initiatives like the Fatal 4 campaign, targeting the four main causes of serious road incidents: speeding, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, and driving under the influence. 'Road safety is everyone's responsibility, and the consequences of ignoring this can be truly catastrophic." --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
ITV News
23-07-2025
- ITV News
Wigan man jailed for causing 'life changing injuries' in e-bike crash
Warning this article incudes distessing images. Two men from Wigan have been sentenced for their part in an e-bike crash that left a pensioner with life-changing injuries. On 1 August 2023, Margaret Scaldwell was crossing Orrell Road in Wigan when she was hit by an e-bike being driven by Kian Monks at about 40 mph in a 30 mph zone. CCTV shown to Bolton Crown Court showed Mrs Scaldwell, 70 being knocked off her feet and thrown down the road after the collision. The impact broke her spine, pelvis, both arms, and 19 ribs and she needed steel plates fitted in her face. The court also heard the emergency calls made in the minutes after the collision where nearby drivers described the horrific collision. Kian Monks, who used to play Wigan Athletic's Youth team was 19 at the time of the crash. He had previously admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Today he was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months in prison. Joel Pilling, who was 20 at the time of the collision had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and aiding and abetting serious injury by dangerous driving. In her victim impact statement Mrs Scaldwell said she was an "independent lady who always had a smile on my face" but is now "no longer living and is just existing". As a result of the collision she relies on medication for the constant pain and to sleep at night. She said she has "nightmares and constant earache" after the collision. Mrs Scaldwell said in her statement that was read to court that she has to sleep downstairs in the dining room as she cannot climb stairs. She has limited use of her hands and struggles to eat as she lost her teeth in the collision and cannot hold a knife and fork. The court heard she has been left with "multiple life changing injuries" which means she has no social life or confidence and is on anti-depressants, she cannot leave the house on her own. Joel Pilling had bought the Talaria Sting e-bike from a friend for £3,200. It was not taxed or insured and the breaks were faulty. Judge Jon Close said that even if the breaks were in working order it could not have stopped in time when it was travelling at least 10 mph over the speed limit. The e-bike was made even more unsteady as it was carrying a passenger at the time. On the day of the crash Joel Pilling had picked up Kian Monks on the bike, but later they had swapped so Monks was driving and Pilling was the passenger. Monks insisted that he had no memory of swapping drivers, so he believed he was the passenger at the time of the collision. Both Monks and Pilling fled the scene immediately after the crash. Monks was arrested at a nearby taxi rank and Pilling turned himself into Police several hours after the crash. Monks told the court that "I woke up in a pool of my own blood, I thought I was going to die and needed to get home to my Mum and sister". He said he had "no recollection" of hitting anyone. Mobile phone footage showed to the court saw him riding the bike away from the scene. Kian Monks said he has written a letter of apology to Mrs Scaldwell and said "I feel horrendous about my actions and never set out to hurt anyone" saying he is "sincerely sorry" Monks played as a centre-forward for Wigan Athletic's Youth Team during 2020/21 season. He has been without a club since July 2022. He was described in court as having a "promising football career" that also included some time as an academy player at Bolton Wanderers. He suffered a "career ending injury to his ankle" and then started to get in with the wrong crowd and make "stupid decision" when his future in football came to an end. The court was told by Joel Pilling's defence team that the now 22 year old is a reformed character who was in with the 'wrong crowd' at the time of the collision. He has shown genuine remorse for his behaviour and has good prospects for rehabilitation as he is working towards an apprenticeship and a career as a tradesman. Joel Pilling, who was 20 at the time of the collision had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and aiding and abetting serious injury by dangerous driving. He was given a 22 months jail sentence suspended for two years plus 250 hours unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for two years .
