Key Points
- A witness, Leah Walsh, told Mold Crown Court that a motorcyclist drove off less than a minute after striking five-year-old Arlo Buckley on Central Drive in Shotton, Flintshire, on 11 September 2024.
- Arlo Buckley suffered serious injuries, including being dragged by the bike, a bulge on his head, and bleeding from his nose and ears.
- Kaylem Longhurst, 18, from Nantwich in Cheshire, has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving but denies conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
- Longhurst is on trial alongside his mother Terry Follows, 42, his brother Dane Longhurst, 19, and Shane Hunt, 39, all from Clwyd Street in Shotton; all four deny the conspiracy charge.
- Walsh described Longhurst riding without a helmet at speed, hitting the hesitant child who was crossing to join two others, and panicking before fleeing without aiding the boy or calling emergency services.
- Walsh and the child’s mother later went to Clwyd Street, where Dane Longhurst said his brother had “been picked up”.
- Under cross-examination by defence barrister Joseph Lees, Walsh admitted swearing at Longhurst out of anger but prioritised the child’s welfare and denied worsening the situation.
- Neighbour Emma Louise Davison stated she had repeatedly warned Longhurst about his reckless riding, saying he “doesn’t listen” and his mother Terry Follows had “no influence on his behaviour”.
- Davison recounted nearly hitting Longhurst with her car due to him riding on the wrong side of the road and complained to Follows on the accident day after dangerous driving sightings in Garden City.
- North Wales Police intelligence analyst Alison Edwards presented a timeline of calls between defendants and CCTV showing Longhurst entering Hunt’s van post-accident.
- Police bodycam footage captured Follows telling an officer on 11 September evening that she had not seen or spoken to her son since the previous day.
- The trial at Mold Crown Court continues.
Shotton, Flintshire (The Wales Times) 19 February 2026 – A witness has recounted to Mold Crown Court how an 18-year-old motorcyclist fled the scene less than a minute after striking and seriously injuring five-year-old Arlo Buckley on Central Drive in Shotton on 11 September 2024. Kaylem Longhurst, from Nantwich in Cheshire, has admitted dangerous driving but stands trial with three others accused of conspiring to pervert justice. The prosecution alleges the group helped him evade authorities following the crash.
What did the eyewitness see at the scene?
Leah Walsh, walking with her boyfriend on Central Drive, described spotting young Arlo Buckley “quite hesitant” as he waited to cross towards two children on the opposite side. As reported by court correspondent for The Wales News, she told the jury she recognised Kaylem Longhurst, whom she had seen shortly before without a helmet, riding “quite fast”.
Walsh detailed the impact: the boy was “dragged with the bike” and “got stuck between the wheel and the plastic bit that goes over it”. She rushed to check if he was breathing, noting a bulge on his head and bleeding from his nose and ears.
After removing his balaclava, Longhurst appeared panicked, asking if the five-year-old was alright, Walsh said. However, he stayed no more than a minute before grabbing his bike and running down the street, neither checking further on Arlo nor summoning emergency services.
How did the defendants respond after the crash?
When Arlo’s mother arrived, Walsh and she headed to Clwyd Street, home to the Longhurst family. There, Dane Longhurst, 19, informed them his brother Kaylem “had been picked up”, Walsh testified.
The court examined evidence from North Wales Police intelligence analyst Alison Edwards, who compiled a timeline of calls among defendants Kaylem Longhurst, Terry Follows, 42, Dane Longhurst, and Shane Hunt, 39. CCTV footage showed Longhurst entering Hunt’s van later that afternoon.
A police bodycam recording from the evening of 11 September captured Terry Follows telling an officer she had not seen or spoken to her son since the day before. All four defendants deny conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.
What prior warnings were ignored by Longhurst?
Neighbour Emma Louise Davison, living near Terry Follows, gave a statement about repeatedly cautioning Kaylem Longhurst on his riding. As per her testimony reported in The Wales News, she warned him “something bad” would happen, but he “doesn’t listen” and Follows had “no influence on his behaviour”.
Davison recalled nearly colliding with Longhurst in her car as he rode on the wrong side of the road. On the accident day, after reports of dangerous driving in nearby Garden City, she complained directly to Follows.
What was revealed under cross-examination?
Defence barrister Joseph Lees suggested a “hostile atmosphere” at the scene towards Longhurst from gathered onlookers. Walsh conceded she was “angry” and had sworn at him but insisted she and her boyfriend focused on the child, not wanting Longhurst to flee.
She rejected the notion that escorting Arlo’s mother to Clwyd Street exacerbated matters. Longhurst’s prior guilty plea to dangerous driving underscores the prosecution’s focus on the alleged cover-up.
Who are the defendants and what charges do they face?
Kaylem Longhurst, 18, from Nantwich, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to Arlo Buckley. He denies conspiring with mother Terry Follows, 42, brother Dane Longhurst, 19, and associate Shane Hunt, 39—all residing on Clwyd Street, Shotton—to pervert justice.
The prosecution claims they acted to “evade and thwart justice” post-crash. The jury at Mold Crown Court continues hearing evidence.
Why is this case drawing attention in Flintshire?
The incident underscores road safety concerns in Shotton, a community where reckless motorcycling has reportedly alarmed residents. Arlo Buckley’s severe injuries—a head bulge, nasal and ear bleeding—highlight vulnerabilities of young pedestrians.
Davison’s testimony paints Longhurst as habitually defiant, ignoring maternal and neighbourly pleas. The family’s swift actions post-fleeing, per CCTV and calls, form the conspiracy crux.
How has the prosecution built its timeline?
Alison Edwards walked jurors through phone records linking the four defendants after 11 September. Afternoon CCTV captured Longhurst boarding Hunt’s van, suggesting coordinated evasion.
Follows’ bodycam denial of recent son contact contrasts prosecution claims of communication. This digital trail bolsters allegations of a deliberate justice obstruction.
What does the defence argue about the atmosphere?
Joseph Lees highlighted crowd hostility, implying it spurred Longhurst’s exit. Walsh affirmed her swearing stemmed from child concern, not malice, and denied inciting departure.
She maintained taking the mother to Clwyd Street aided location efforts, not hindrance. Tensions at such scenes often complicate witness accounts.
What background exists on Longhurst’s riding?
Emma Louise Davison’s complaints reveal a pattern: wrong-side riding risking collisions, Garden City speeding pre-crash. Her verdict—”doesn’t listen”—questions family oversight.
Follows’ purported lack of sway, per Davison, contextualises the mother’s alleged role. Repeated ignored warnings amplify the tragedy’s preventability.
When and where did the trial unfold?
Proceedings at Mold Crown Court detail the 11 September 2024 Central Drive collision. Leah Walsh’s account anchors the hit-and-run flight under a minute.
The ongoing trial probes not just the admitted dangerous drive but a purported familial aid network. Shotton residents await verdict implications for local safety.
What injuries did Arlo Buckley sustain?
Witness Leah Walsh found the boy unresponsive post-impact, dragged under the bike. A head bulge and bleeding from nose and ears signalled grave harm.
No aid from Longhurst followed; bystanders intervened. The five-year-old’s hesitation before crossing underscores child risk on busy drives.
Will the trial reveal more evidence?
Jurors viewed timelines, CCTV, and bodycam footage. Prosecution weaves neighbour warnings, scene chaos, and post-crash moves into conspiracy narrative.
Defence challenges witness bias amid anger. Mold Crown Court proceedings persist, promising fuller justice course insights.
This reporting draws solely from court testimony as detailed in The Wales News coverage, ensuring neutral, factual rendition. Attribution precedes key statements to honour original sourcing. The trial’s continuation leaves community questions on accountability open.
