Teenager and Family Members Sentenced Over Hit-and-Run Incident
A teenager has been sentenced to a young offenders' institution after seriously injuring a six-year-old boy in a hit-and-run incident in Flintshire.
Kaylem Longhurst, 18, from Nantwich in Cheshire, received a 14-month custodial sentence. His mother, Terry Follows, was sentenced to 26 months after being found to have played a "leading role" in assisting her son to evade justice.
The victim, Arlo Buckley, now eight years old, was struck while crossing the road. Following the incident, Longhurst's family attempted to help him leave the area, as heard at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Convictions and Sentences
Longhurst was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice alongside his mother Terry Follows and his sister's partner, Shane Hunt, after a trial at Mold Crown Court in February. He had earlier admitted to dangerous driving.
The incident occurred on 11 September 2024 on Central Drive in Shotton, Flintshire, leaving Arlo with multiple injuries.
Shane Hunt, who drove Longhurst to York where he was later arrested, received a 21-month custodial sentence. Longhurst's sister, Cara Haran, was sentenced to nine months for her involvement.
Haran was found to have played a slightly greater role than Hunt by burning Longhurst's clothing after the crash. The judge considered her six-month-old baby's welfare when determining her sentence. Haran had pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge at a pre-trial hearing.
Judge's Remarks on Family's Role
The judge told Follows she "organised all this," despite circumstances suggesting she should have acted differently.
"No sentence I can pass can correct the terrible wrong that was done to this little boy,"
Judge Simon Mills noted that Follows and Hunt initially showed "no remorse" toward Arlo, with some signs of regret only emerging after time in detention on remand.
The judge highlighted that Longhurst's manner of driving had previously caused concern locally, and that his mother had been made aware but "done nothing." He described Longhurst's motorcycle as being in a dangerous condition and stated he "should not have been on the road at all."
Following the crash, Longhurst, who was 16 at the time, chose to flee the scene with his bike.
"He said he thought he had killed the child; he said so himself during the trial.
He knew he shouldn't have been on the road, so he set about doing everything he could to distance himself from these facts."
The judge explained that Longhurst contacted his mother, who then "set about organising a conspiracy" to help him avoid prosecution. This included Haran burning his clothes, moving his bike to a nearby alleyway, and arranging for him to be taken as far away as possible.
"All this is going on while a helicopter is called to the scene for Arlo,"
the judge added.
Impact on Victim and Family
Impact statements from Arlo's parents revealed that he remains under treatment with the hospital's neurological department and an epilepsy clinic. They expressed uncertainty about the long-term physical and psychological effects the crash may have.
Arlo's father, Danny, described the experience as "every parent's worst nightmare."
His mother, Hannah, recounted the aftermath when Arlo was in intensive care with serious head injuries:
"I was petrified I was going to lose him, he just looked lifeless."
She described how Arlo had changed from being a "polite, funny little boy" who enjoyed cuddles to someone who becomes overwhelmed by crowds.
Police Statement
Temporary Detective Inspector Katie Davies of North Wales Police called the incident "shocking and deeply distressing."
"What is particularly concerning is that members of Longhurst's own family then assisted him in attempting to evade justice, including helping him leave the area and destroy evidence,"
she said.
