The bike owner, Alwyn Hughes-Jones, was left with life-changing accidents and stated of himself and his household: ‘Our life has been placed on maintain’
A farmer has admitted he left a bike owner with “catastrophic” accidents after he overtook him whereas towing a trailer. Osian Storey-Williams was driving a tractor on a rural Denbigh street two years in the past when he overtook Alwyn Hughes-Jones.
Although the trailer itself didn’t hit Mr Hughes-Jones, the overtaking manoeuvre Williams employed led to Mr Hughes-Jones falling off his bike, and smashing his head – which left him with a mind damage. He needed to be airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd after which the Royal Stoke College Hospital after having sustained life-changing accidents. He needed to spend a cumulative of three months in hospitals.
He’ll neither have the ability to trip his bicycle nor drive ever once more, and although he was stated to bear no “malice” to Storey-Williams, he wished to pursue the authorized case so he may spotlight the “vulnerability” of cyclists.
On October 13, 2025, showing earlier than Caernarfon Crown Court docket, Storey-Williams, 56, pleaded responsible to inflicting critical damage by careless driving throughout the incident that occurred on October 6, 2023, on the A543 Mould Highway, whereas he was carrying maize from Sychdyn to Llansannan in Conwy.
Prosecutor Elen Owen instructed the courtroom that Storey-Williams was driving a John Deere tractor, which was in flip towing a big trailer on the agricultural street. Don’t miss a courtroom report by signing up to our crime publication right here
He stumbled on a bike owner who gestured along with his proper arm, for the tractor to overhaul him.
A witness to the incident, Clint Speakman-Jones, was travelling in a automobile behind the tractor, and stated that, although the tractor overtook the bike owner, it was “very shut” to him at roughly “one and a half metres”.
He added that because the overtaking manoeuvre occurred, the bike owner “flew up into the air” and fell “face down” onto the street.
The courtroom was instructed that, although Mr Speakman-Jones believed that the bike owner had hit the trailer, there was no proof of contact. Nevertheless, one other oncoming automobile needed to take “evasive” motion.
The tractor driver stopped and emergency companies have been known as.
An unconscious Mr Hughes-Jones who was sporting a excessive visibility jacket, and a tough hat whereas driving his electrical bike, was then lifted to the Stoke trauma centre.
The bike owner suffered a bleed on his mind, a badly fractured proper arm, three fractured ribs and different accidents.
Later, the seasoned bike owner who’s retired, issued a press release saying that he had not made the criticism with malice, however as a substitute wished to spotlight the vulnerability of cyclists.
Storey-Williams instructed Caernarfon Crown Court docket that Mr Hughes-Jones had gestured utilizing his proper arm to be overtaken, whereas his barrister, Owen Edwards KC, highlighted that, although the autumn led to “catastrophic” results, the tractor’s trailer didn’t made contact with the bicycle.
Mr Edwards added that Storey-Williams was a person of earlier good character who farmed over 118 acres of land and leased rather less.
He added that Storey-Williams had 170 cows, 280 ewes, and three autos.
Mr Edwards stated: “It is a enterprise that doesn’t function at a revenue and that’s widespread. Individuals will query how that may be when the worth of the equipment is just like the worth of a small, terraced home.
“However that is the fact of the enterprise. It supplies a very good residing however a very good residing that is completely depending on Mr Williams.”
Talking concerning the overtaking to Williams, the decide, her Honour Nicola Jones stated: “I am certain on reflection you wouldn’t do this once more.
“It is best to have seemed on the street, seemed on the size of your automobile and never adopted his gesture. He (the bike owner) was completely innocent. He was being courteous to different street customers.”
Handing Storey-Williams, of Bryn Cocyn Highway, Llannefydd, Conwy, a 12-month group order with a situation to do 100 hours of unpaid work, the decide warned him that if the order was breached, he would face imprisonment.
Williams was not disqualified from driving resulting from “particular” causes, which included him staying on the scene. Nevertheless, the decide ordered him to pay £600 in direction of prices.
A agency of solicitors stated after the sentencing that Mr Hughes-Jones can be pursuing a compensation declare as a way to safe his future.
Robin Patey, principal accomplice at Categorical Solicitors, instructed North Wales Stay: “Alwyn shouldn’t be in a position to be right here right now to see right now’s sentence as he continues to get better from his devastating accidents.
“However him and his spouse additionally really feel that driver Osian and his household may have suffered too. Earlier than the accident Alwyn was unbiased, assured with a ardour for biking and strolling travelling miles daily having fun with the Welsh countryside.
“Now he has been left with devastating reminiscence loss from a extreme mind damage and is now wholly reliant on his spouse Anne for on a regular basis duties. His life is now a merry go spherical of hospital appointments and coverings.”
“His spouse Anne has just about turn out to be his full-time carer, a place neither of them envisaged or wished.” Robin added: “Any compensation will assist pay for medical assist.”
He added that Alwyn wished to say: “This has had an enormous affect on not simply me, however my spouse Anne and my whole household. Our life has been placed on maintain.
“I’ve misplaced all my independence and reminiscence and might not do my interest of biking which I liked and my retirement that I had so seemed ahead to for therefore lengthy has been ruined. I really feel responsible for all the things my spouse now should now do for me.
“I’m not the person I was earlier than I used to be knocked over.”
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