A heart-wrenching incident in Shotton, Flintshire, has left a five-year-old boy, Arlo Buckley, critically injured following a tragic hit-and-run. Teenager Kaylem Longhurst, who was riding an off-road motorbike illegally, crashed into young Arlo as he crossed the road. Instead of stopping to help, Longhurst fled, leaving Arlo to fight for his life with serious injuries.
The story takes a shocking twist as it came to light that Longhurst’s own family helped him cover up the crime. They went so far as to burn his clothes, hide the bike, and whisk him away in a van, eventually taking him to York.
Following a court trial at Mold Crown Court, Longhurst, now 18, was sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders institute. His actions weren’t the only ones under scrutiny. His mother, Terry Follows, played a significant role in the cover-up and received a 26-month prison sentence. Shane Hunt, the ex-partner of Longhurst’s sister, got 21 months for his involvement.
Detective Inspector Katie Davies highlighted the alarming nature of the incident: “This was a deeply distressing incident with a child left seriously injured while Longhurst fled rather than help. The fact his family assisted in evasion tactics is particularly concerning.”
This case is a reminder of the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and how the justice system tirelessly works to hold not just offenders accountable, but those who aid in their attempt to avoid the law.