**Traumatised Teacher Suffers Life-Altering Injuries After Reckless Motorbike Collision on Halifax Pavement**
A trainee teacher from Halifax has been left with devastating injuries after being struck by an illegally ridden motorbike as she disembarked from a bus. The harrowing incident, captured on CCTV, has reignited concerns surrounding dangerous driving on pavements and the consequences for innocent members of the public.
On September 4, 2023, Grace Marriott, in her thirties, exited a stationary bus on a busy street in West Yorkshire when she was hit with force by a motorbike ridden by 21-year-old Macenna Shaw from Bradford. Dressed in a ski mask and without a helmet, Shaw sped along the pavement on a Benelli motorbike, colliding with Ms Marriott almost the instant she stepped off the bus. The shocking footage shows her being struck and dragged several metres along the ground before horrified witnesses rushed to her aid.
Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene, and Ms Marriott was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. Her injuries were extensive and included a punctured lung, three broken ribs, compound fractures in her leg, and multiple abrasions and burns across her body. The severity of her injuries led to two surgical procedures, including a skin graft, and she spent 14 months with a metal frame affixed to her leg. For six weeks following the crash, she was unable to move, and the trauma she experienced continues to hinder her career in education.
In a powerful personal statement read before Bradford Crown Court, Ms Marriott described the profound impact of the crash on her life. “I feel every part of me has been taken away. I feel like it has ruined my life,” she confessed, revealing the ongoing pain and emotional turmoil she endures due to someone else’s dangerous choice.
Macenna Shaw attempted to escape the scene after the collision, even picking up his motorbike and trying to flee. However, swift-thinking passers-by as well as the bus driver subdued him until police arrived. Officers discovered a knuckleduster in his pocket upon arrest, adding a further troubling dimension to the case.
At his sentencing, Shaw pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and Recorder David Gordon handed down a 22-month custodial sentence, coupled with a 35-month driving ban. Shaw will also be required to pass an extended test if he ever seeks to drive again, and his motorbike has been confiscated. The judge highlighted Shaw’s blatant disregard for the safety of others, stating that he should have foreseen the imminent potential for harm, particularly as he overtook stationary traffic and mounted the pavement with no means of identifying his vehicle.
During mitigation, defence counsel Matthew Moore-Taylor described Shaw’s actions as “an immature and stupid decision”, asserting his client’s remorse and regret. Although Shaw expressed sorrow, the court emphasised the gravity of his choices and the lifelong consequences now faced by his victim.
This incident has drawn further scrutiny to the dangers posed by illegal vehicle use on pedestrian areas, especially given the rise in anti-social riding behaviour in urban areas. Observers, including one off-duty police officer on the day, noted that Shaw’s bike had no number plate and that the sound of the engine was already drawing attention moments before tragedy struck.
Ms Marriott’s ordeal continues to reverberate, with her dreams of qualifying as a teacher severely disrupted. The case serves as a sobering reminder of how a moment’s recklessness on the roads can permanently alter lives. It is hoped that this prosecution will act as a deterrent to others, underlining the legal and moral responsibility all road users have towards the safety of pedestrians.
Police and local officials have reiterated calls for vigilance and responsibility on the roads and pavements, encouraging witnesses to dangerous practices to report them and help prevent further tragedies of this nature.