Teenager Sentenced for Seriously Injuring Young Boy

A teenager faces 14 months in a young offenders’ institution after seriously injuring a six-year-old boy in a hit-and-run incident in Flintshire. Kaylem Longhurst, now 18, from Nantwich in Cheshire, struck the child while riding his motorcycle on Central Drive in Shotton on 11 September 2024.

Family Members Convicted of Aiding Evasion

Longhurst’s mother, Terry Follows, received a 26-month prison sentence for orchestrating efforts to help her son avoid justice. The judge highlighted her “leading role” in the conspiracy. Longhurst’s sister’s partner, Shane Hunt, got 21 months, while his sister, Cara Haran, was sentenced to nine months for burning his clothing after the crash.

All were found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at Mold Crown Court following a trial in February. Longhurst had already pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Details of the Crash and Cover-Up

The boy, named Arlo, suffered multiple injuries, including serious head trauma, requiring ongoing treatment in a hospital neurological department and epilepsy clinic. Longhurst, aged 16 at the time, fled the scene on his bike, believing he had killed the child. He contacted his mother, who coordinated the cover-up: Haran destroyed his clothes, the bike was hidden in a nearby alley, and Hunt drove him to York, where authorities later arrested him. A helicopter airlifted Arlo to the hospital amid these actions.

The judge noted Longhurst rode a dangerously maintained bike at excessive speed, despite local concerns reported to his mother, who took no action.

Judge’s Remarks on Remorse and Responsibility

Judge Simon Mills stated that Follows and Hunt showed “no remorse” toward Arlo until remand detention prompted some regret. “No sentence I can pass can correct the terrible wrong that was done to this little boy,” he said. He emphasized Follows “organised all this” despite better options and criticized Longhurst’s decision to flee.

Victim’s Family Shares Lasting Impact

Arlo’s father, Danny, described the ordeal as “every parent’s worst nightmare.” His mother, Hannah, recalled the terror of seeing her son lifeless in intensive care: “I was petrified I was going to lose him.” She noted changes in Arlo, from a “polite, funny little boy” who loved cuddles to one overwhelmed by crowds. The family faces uncertainty over long-term physical and psychological effects.

Police Statement on the Case

Temporary Detective Inspector Katie Davies of North Wales Police called the incident “shocking and deeply distressing.” She expressed concern that Longhurst’s family assisted in destroying evidence and fleeing the area.