Two guilty of encouraging dangerous driving after quad bike tragedy

TWO MEN have been found guilty of encouraging dangerous driving after four young people died when the quad bike they were on was hit by a car travelling at 140mph as vehicles raced along a bypass.

The racing scenes that led to the deaths of Ryan Beal, 20, Brandon Brown, 20, Alexandra Binns, 18, and Terrie Kirby, 16, were likened to the film

during a trial at Leeds Crown Court, which finished yesterday.

A jury was told how the four young people who died were out celebrating Miss Kirby’s birthday when the quad bike they were riding on was ‘devastated’ by a Nissan 350Z.

The driver of the Nissan, Daniel Raynor, and his front-seat passenger, Matthew Todd, have admitted charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

Five people had been on trial accused of encouraging the dangerous driving. Yesterday, the jury cleared three – George Tomlinson, 25, of Netherton, Wakefield; Lee Fisher, 29, of Barnsley; and Bradley Lockwood, 22, of Barnsley.

But the jury found the other two men guilty. They were Nathan Jackson, 21, of Higham Common, Barnsley and Stephen Hebden, 23, of Dodworth Road, Barnsley.

Hebden was found guilty unanimously and Jackson on an 11-toone majority.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said the pair would be sentencedlater,alongwithRaynor and Todd. No date has yet been fixed. The judge gave Hebden and Jackson bail, but told them: “All sentencing options remain open”.

Kama Melly QC, prosecuting, said the Nissan was taking part in high-speed racing involving several vehicles.