A mechanic rode a quad bike on the wrong side of the road before smashing into the side of a car, throwing him and his 12-year-old passenger more than 20ft into the air, a court has heard.

Richard Edwards, 23, of Chetland Close, Horsehay, was spotted riding a 700cc Yamaha Raptor recklessly on Halesfield 19 in Telford at a ‘cruise meet’ attended by about 100 vehicles on August 8 last year.

Edwards failed to spot a car as it pulled out and smashed the quad into the side of the vehicle.

Both Edwards and the boy suffered serious injuries including broken legs. Edwards also damaged his spleen, fractured his right shoulder and had cuts to his arms.

Yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Edwards was found guilty of careless driving.

The jury found him not guilty of the more serious charge of dangerous driving. He had pleaded not guilty.

Judge Simon Tonking banned Edwards from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay more than £1,000.

The court heard while taking part in the ‘cruise meet’ the 12-year-old boy asked Edwards if he could have a go on the quad.

Edwards obliged but failed to see a car driven by Dean Evans and crashed the quad into the side of the vehicle.

Judge Simon Tonking said: “You were driving below the standard of a reasonable, competent, careful and prudent driver.

“As you drove along you were not doing a wheelie but you were not keeping a proper look at the traffic.

“As a result you failed to see the car as it indicated and pulled out. There was terrible consequences for you and your passenger.

“People who take vehicles such as this out on to the road need to take great care as those riding them are extremely vulnerable. The injuries could have been much worse, if not fatal.”

Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said: “It would be obvious to a competent, careful driver that it would be dangerous to drive in the way he did. The boy was hanging on for his life.”

During the trial Edwards, a father-of-two, told the court he would not risk pulling a wheelie with a child on the vehicle.

Mr Andrew McKinnes, for Edwards, said: “No-one chooses to make a mistake while we are driving.

“We all like to think we are careful and considerate drivers, but even careful and considerate drivers can make mistakes. There is no evidence of a wheelie being pulled.”

By Paul Mannion