Man took fire engine and seriously injured motorcyclist in crash

A part-time worker took a fire engine for a drive and ended up causing serious injuries to a motorcyclist, a court heard.

The incident happened after David James, 56, asked a fire prevention firm if he could clean the 15-year-old vehicle in their yard.

But he then drove onto the road, although he had no licence or insurance to cover the trip, said Andrew Conboy, prosecuting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

James missed the turn when he came back and collided with a motorbiker, who ended up with a bleed on the brain, seven fractured ribs, a dislocated elbow and kidney problems.

Probation reports were ordered on James of Everest Drive, Somercotes.

He admitted taking a fire engine without consent when an injury was caused; no insurance and no driving licence for the vehicle on September 22.

The firm owner said that he received a text message from James, who works as a fire marshal.

He asked to visit the premises to wash the engine, which was once owned by a fire service.

"He said he would never have agreed to Mr James driving the fire engine," said Mr Conboy.

Ran Johal, mitigating, said that James called an ambulance and remained with the injured motorcyclist until help arrived.

"This is not someone who initially had any intention to drive. It was simply to wash the fire engine in the yard and move it around the yard.

"He made a stupid decision and had simply gone a short distance out of the yard. He missed the entrance and turned and went to the second entrance.

"That is where the collision occurred," said Mr Johal. James then phoned the owner to say that the fire engine had been damaged.

The court heard that James works full-time at a security firm which described him as "trustworthy, reliable member of staff and valuable part of the team."

Mr Johal added: "He shows remorse. This was not a premeditated offence."

Magistrate Allison Folkett, who sat with another JP, ordered a probation report and told James this would look at the prospect of prison.

"It will look at the punitive element and a custodial sentence and a suspended sentence as well," she added.

In a statement, the victim said he had been taking the motorbike to someone who planned to buy it.

He has been unable to work since the accident and the "long term prognosis is not known."