A man has been jailed after he drove a stolen motorbike on the wrong side of the road and smashed into a cyclist, almost killing him.
Konnor Harvey, 20, was driving the stolen bike in Lees, Oldham, on August bank holiday this year.
A court heard today how he was disqualified from driving and uninsured at the time.
He was travelling at speed on the blue Suzuki GSXR 750cc on Huddersfield Road at around 5pm, when he overtook a number of cars and drove around a bend on the wrong side of the road.
A cyclist - a 54-year-old man - was riding his bike in the opposite direction when he saw the motorbike speeding towards him.
The cyclist applied his emergency brakes and flew over his handlebars, landing on the pavement where Harvey collided with him on the motorbike.
Harvey's speed caused him to skid along the road before he hit a road sign.
The victim was almost killed in the incident, and left with life-threatening injuries and several serious internal injuries, police said.
He was taken to hospital where he remained for nine weeks – including on his 55th birthday.
After being discharged from hospital, Harvey was arrested and charged.
He pleaded guilty to single counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing serious injury whilst disqualified, using a motor vehicle in a public place without third party insurance, driving whilst disqualified, and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Harvey, of Meadowcroft Lane, Oldham was sentenced to two years and 11 months in jail.
Detective Sergeant Diana Dyer-Barron, of GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a shocking incident which demonstrated the complete disregard Harvey had for law-abiding road users who have a legal right to be on our roads; he doesn’t and I’m satisfied that today’s verdict will keep it that way for a while to come.
"Konnor Harvey is extremely fortunate that he wasn’t here today facing a jail term for causing an innocent man’s death, as this collision was so serious that the victim who suffered due to Harvey’s reckless actions was almost killed.
“I would like to pay my best wishes and respects to the victim of this incident as he continues his recovery from injuries suffered on that horrendous day. Hopefully today's conclusion is a further step towards some closure for him.”
