Man drove 4x4 at couple on e-bike, jury told

A man drove a 4x4 vehicle at a couple on an e-bike after being disturbed in a field in Derbyshire, a trial has heard.

Alana Armstrong, 25, was a passenger on the bike driven by her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay on Batley Lane, Pleasley, on 26 November when it was hit by a Land Rover Discovery.

Jurors heard she had been declared dead at the scene after suffering "catastrophic injuries", while her partner had his leg amputated.

Keaton Muldoon, 23 and of Tuckers Lane in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, denies murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

On Friday, the trial at Derby Crown Court heard Ms Armstrong, Mr Newton-Kay and James Gilbert had been smoking cannabis together before going out on two e-bikes.

Sally Howes KC, prosecuting, said the vehicles were not legal to be driven on the road, but the riders had said their cannabis use did not impair their driving.

The two e-bikes were in a quiet and rural area of narrow roads at about 20:00 GMT, when they chanced upon a 4x4 vehicle in a nearby field off Sampson's Lane.

When the bikes' headlights shone into the vehicle, two people were reportedly seen inside. The court heard after the e-bikes had left the area, they were "pursued and chased by the driver", said to be Mr Muldoon.

Ms Howes said he had repeatedly driven the car into the e-bike ridden by Mr Newton-Kay, on which Ms Armstrong was riding pillion.

"This collision was a deliberate, targeted running-down using a large, heavy, powerful vehicle to [hit] a small, light and vulnerable motorcycle off the road," she said.

"The catastrophic injuries sustained by Alana Armstrong as a result of this collision were unsurvivable, and she was declared dead at the scene."

Mr Newton-Kay said he witnessed Ms Armstrong "flying backwards" after the crash, adding the 4x4 "left us for dead".

Ms Howes said he had been "fully conscious but in great pain" when paramedics arrived, having been alerted after Mr Gilbert rang his father.

Mr Newton-Kay's right leg was amputated up to the knee the following day, and further surgery saw a further amputation 15cm (6in) above the knee.

The court heard the passenger in Mr Muldoon's 4x4 had arranged earlier that evening to buy cocaine from him, before he drove her off towards a rural area.

Ms Howes said she had described him driving "pretty erratically" and "pretty fast" before and after the pursuit.

The court heard Mr Muldoon had initially denied being behind the wheel of the vehicle, telling police he had not driven it for three days and that his uncle had it on the evening of the crash.

After the collision he texted a man to arrange a swap of the vehicle, which took place on 27 November.

A jury - made up of 11 women and one man - were told that on 20 May Mr Muldoon had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Ms Howes said he had changed his story, admitting he had been driving the 4x4 but saying the crash "was an accident" and he had been "driving in a state of panic due to the fear of being robbed by the three persons on the motorcycles".

"If the defendant was in fear of the [bikes], why did he follow them?" she asked jurors. "He wasn't being chased by them."

Despite admitting driving dangerously, Ms Howes said Mr Muldoon's admissions "do not reflect the full criminality and culpability of [his] actions".

The trial continues.

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