An off-road biker from Nottingham has admitted causing the death of a 67-year-old motorcyclist following a police chase in the city. Connor Copse pleaded guilty to causing the death of Kevin Peacock by dangerous driving when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, January 3.
Members of the victim’s family were inside the courtroom to hear the plea while the 24-year-old defendant – who walked in with crutches and with his leg in a brace – was supported by his mother and father for the short hearing. The defendant, of Welstead Avenue, Aspley, was himself left with serious injuries following the collision with Mr Peacock’s blue Yamaha in Broxtowe Lane, on the afternoon of May 6. Both men were taken to hospital but Mr Peacock died more than a month later on June 12.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to riding the off-road bike without insurance or a valid licence. Adjourning the sentencing hearing until March 21, with a two-hour time estimate, and handing Copse conditional bail, Judge James Sampson said: “You should be aware, from this moment on and due to your guilty plea, you are disqualified from driving anywhere and any vehicle on a public road. On that basis you are free to go for the moment.”
At the time of the collision, Nottinghamshire Police said its officers were in pursuit of an orange KTM off-road bike, after they initially spotted it being ridden dangerously by Copse in Carlton Hill. They said the bike was seen around 3:53pm and then was later seen in the Church Street area of Basford before it was last spotted in Bracknell Crescent, Whitemoor. Officers then lost sight of the bike and a short time later it was reported to have been involved in a collision with Mr Peacock’s Yamaha motorbike in Broxtowe Lane, Broxtowe.
In a statement at the time, the force said: “In line with standard procedure, Nottinghamshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The IOPC is now investigating the circumstances of the pursuit, whilst the crash is being investigated by Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.”