Margaret Scaldwell was left in a coma with life-changing injuries (Image: SWNS)
A young footballer-turned thug left a grandmother in a coma with life-changing injuries after ramming into her on an e-bike. The 21-year-old has now been sentenced to more than two years behind bars.
Kian Monks, 21, was caught on CCTV slamming into Margaret Scaldwell as she crossed a road in Wigan, Greater Manchester, in August 2023.
The former Wigan Athletic youth player, then aged 19, had reached speeds of 40mph in a 30mph zone on the off-road Talaria Sting e-bike which had its speed limiter removed.
The 70-year-old grandmother was hurled through the air by the collision and landed several metres away, with her head striking the pavement.
She sustained a fractured spine, pelvis, arms, and 19 broken ribs and has been left unable to feed herself following the devastating crash.
Margaret Scaldwell can be seen crossing the road (Image: SWNS)
Monks was riding the bike alongside Joel Pilling, 22, and both men abandoned the scene leaving behind their victim lying in the middle of the busy A577.
Video footage shows members of the public pursued and detained Monks, while Pilling surrendered himself to police later in the day.
Monks can be seen with blood streaming down his face, protesting his innocence saying: “I wasn’t driving, it wasn’t me. I’ve hit my head. I’ve hurt my head and my jaw.”
The two men can be seen on the e-bike (Image: SWNS)
Monks, who held a provisional licence and no insurance, has now been sentenced to two years and three months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Pilling, the owner of the motorbike but without a licence, was handed a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
Both men were disqualified from driving at Bolton Crown Court – Monks for four years and Pilling for two.
In a statement released after the sentencing, Ms Scaldwell said: “These men’s selfishness have ruined my life.
“Before the collision I was an independent lady and always had a smile on my face.
“Now my life is dehumanising, reduced to a long list of hospital appointments with no end in sight and I can no longer walk wash or feed myself.
“No sentence will bring back my health. But I will not let them beat me as I am determined to recover the best I can.”
Greater Manchester Police have released a mugshot of the perpetrator (Image: Greater Manchester Police)
The Talaria Sting off-road bike is sold at a price of £3,795 and is considered a motor vehicle under the law, requiring insurance and a licence for on-road use. The vehicle has a top speed of 47 mph with a range of 63 miles.
Detective Constable Steve Pennington, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “This was a shocking incident where two individuals recklessly rode an e-bike through one of Wigan’s busiest areas with complete disregard for public safety.
Police have called it “miraculous” that Margaret survived the incident (Image: Greater Manchester Police)
“Their dangerous driving resulted in a horrific collision with a grandmother who was simply crossing the road.
“She suffered life-changing injuries and spent weeks in a coma – it’s nothing short of miraculous that she survived.
“This incident highlights the severe consequences of operating e-bikes illegally on our roads.
Margaret has simply been trying to cross the road when the incident happened (Image: SWNS)
“These aren’t toys – they’re powerful vehicles that require proper licensing, safety equipment, and responsible handling.
“Riding without these essentials isn’t just breaking the law, it’s putting lives at risk.
“At GMP we’re committed to reducing serious and fatal collisions across our region.
The two men also sustained some injuries (Image: Greater Manchester Police)
“We actively support national road safety initiatives like the Fatal 4 campaign, targeting the four main causes of serious road incidents: speeding, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts, and driving under the influence.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and the consequences of ignoring this can be truly catastrophic.”