TWO men have been jailed after stealing motorbikes and crashing into a 10-year-old boy, leaving him seriously injured as they fled the scene.
Connor Whalen, 20, earlier admitted injuring the boy in the hit-and-run on Ferry Road on August 19. Marc Millar, 23, admitted driving dangerously and stealing a motorbike.
Both men had been disqualified from driving when they took two bikes. Miller was speeding at 40mph and overtook traffic when he sped through a crossing as the lights were turning red.
Whalen followed behind but sped up to 50mph as he went through the red light and hit the young boy, who was on the crossing at the time.
The boy was thrown into the air and Whalen came off his bike but he ran off and was picked up as a pillion passenger by Miller.
The victim was treated in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children after suffering serious injuries to his arms, legs and chest. He was off school for four months and has been scarred for life.
Detective Inspector Graham Grant, of Corstorphine CID, said: “Connor Whalen and Marc Miller callously left a seriously injured child screaming for help in the roadway while others rushed to tend to him.
“They were more concerned with concealing their actions than ensuring the survival of a 10-year-old boy from their own community.
“In response to their decision, we instigated a major operation to find the pair and hold them to account.
“The 10-year-old’s bravery throughout this process has been outstanding and I wish to pay tribute to him.
“I hope this sentence will give him and his family some closure and allow them to move on from this terrible incident.”
Whalen was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison while Miller was sentenced to two years and 11 months.
Andrew Richardson, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “Their actions resulted in a young boy not only sustaining serious injuries but also being left traumatised by his terrifying experience.
“It is the type of incident which could easily have ended in a fatality.
“Such joyriding is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I would urge anyone who has any information in relation to similar dangerous and anti-social behaviour to contact the police.”
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