Speeding biker jailed after crash left man needing amputation

A reckless motorcyclist who caused life-changing injuries to a pedestrian in Swansea city centre has been handed a four-year prison sentence.

Isaac Morris, 26, from Carmarthen Road in Fforestfach, was travelling at 55mph through a 30mph zone when his Kawasaki Ninja struck a 20-year-old man crossing Victoria Road near Wind Street on the evening of 19th May 2023.

The devastating collision threw the victim approximately 40 yards through the air. He had just finished his shift at the Premier Inn when Morris’ motorcycle hit him around 9.30pm.

Morris was leading a group of seven motorcyclists riding from Mumbles to Swansea when the crash occurred. CCTV footage shown at Swansea Crown Court captured the moment the convoy stopped, with bystanders rushing to help.

The young victim suffered catastrophic injuries including a fractured shoulder blade, facial wounds affecting his chin, tongue and cheek, a fractured eyeball, and bleeding on the brain. After spending nearly a month at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, doctors had no option but to amputate his right leg.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, he described the permanent impact: “The incident has caused permanent and serious injuries. Each morning I have to put my prosthetic leg on just to carry out basic tasks. I have forgotten what it feels like to run or walk up a hill with ease. There is a possibility I could develop epilepsy in later years which adds to my stress.”

Prosecutor Abdul Hussain revealed that Morris’ motorcycle brake pads were in such poor condition they would have failed an MOT inspection.

Morris admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and four additional dangerous driving offences committed around Swansea between April and May 2023 – including one incident where he reached 100mph in a 30mph zone.

Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim told the court: “This is a tragedy because we have a young man who has a permanent disability for the rest of his life. Every time he wakes up he knows that. We also have another young man who has the guilt of causing that. The individual I saw this morning is not an arrogant individual. He is remorseful and was on the verge of tears.”

Judge Huw Rees acknowledged Morris’ remorse but stated he could easily have killed the pedestrian. He sentenced Morris to 32 months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and 16 months for the other offences – totalling 48 months imprisonment.

Morris has also been banned from driving for 84 months and must pass an extended driving test before he can legally get behind the wheel again.