Five-year-old Shotton boy critically injured in hit and run – court

A serious incident involving a motorbike and a young child took place in Shotton, Flintshire, resulting in critical injuries to a five-year-old boy named Arlo Buckley. According to the prosecution presented at Mold Crown Court, Arlo was struck and dragged along the road by the rider of an off-road motorbike who then fled the scene. The accident occurred around 5:30 PM on 11 September 2024, when Arlo was crossing Central Drive with his siblings.

The rider involved, 18-year-old Kaylem Longhurst from Nantwich, has admitted to dangerous driving in connection with the crash. However, Longhurst stands trial alongside three others—his mother Terry Follows, 42; Shane Hunt, 39; and his brother Dane Longhurst, 19—all from Shotton. They face charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, accused of attempting to conceal Kaylem’s involvement and obstruct law enforcement efforts.

Prosecutor Ember Wong outlined that witnesses observed Kaylem riding erratically without a helmet, a valid licence, or a functioning front brake. After the collision, bystanders tried to assist the unresponsive boy, while the motorbike rider was seen furtively moving his bike away before being challenged. He then fled on foot with the bike. The court heard that shortly afterward, Kaylem contacted his mother, who was working at a pizza takeaway, and later arrived at her home where his siblings and Shane Hunt helped facilitate efforts to cover up the incident. This included trying to burn Kaylem’s coat and hide the motorbike.

Despite denying any prior knowledge or participation, the defendants were implicated through a series of phone calls revealing coordinated attempts to evade responsibility. Kaylem was eventually arrested in York, where he was taken after Hunt and Haran transported him there. During the journey, Kaylem reportedly searched online for the potential prison sentence for a hit-and-run offense. While Haran has pleaded guilty and admitted to the cover-up actions, other family members have denied involvement. Longhurst claims he fled because he feared retaliation but intended to contact the police. His mother disputes her daughter’s version of events, affirming that she would not hesitate to report any wrongdoing by her children

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