The rider and two pillion passengers were thrown from a powerful speeding motorcycle when it collided with a car making a turning manoeuvre, a court heard.

All three casualties, two of whom were not wearing helmets, suffered serious injuries, but it could have proved fatal for one of them, who Durham Crown Court was told possibly only survived due to the prompt medical attention of a passing off-duty prison officer.

Kaine Forster, who was riding the 700CC Yamaha machine, which had its number plate removed, had driven at speed over a zebra crossing in a residential area of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, a few seconds earlier.

He was then seen “showing off” by performing a wheelie, before a car two vehicles ahead indicated to turn right.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Jonathan Gittins, prosecuting, said as the driver of the Renault Grand Scenic slowly began to make the move, at the junction of Loud Terrace and West Road, Forster was travelling at an estimated 84 to 89-miles per hour.

The motorcycle struck the rear offside of the Renault, the impact of which caused Forster and his two passengers to be thrown from the motorcycle.

Mr Gittins said the passing off-duty prison officer performed CPR on the most gravely injured of the three casualties, prior to the arrival of ambulances and the Great North Air Ambulance at the scene.

He suffered bleeding on the brain, fractures to the neck, upper spine, ribs, thigh bone and facial bones, plus trauma injuries to the spleen and liver.

The victim also suffered a pulmonary embolism and remained in hospital from the day of the collision, in late morning on July 5 last year, until October 23.

Mr Gittins said more than a year after the incident he still has cognitive issues and lingering problems with some of his fractured limbs for which he may require further surgery.

(Image: Durham Constabulary)

Forster, 24, of Co-operative Terrace West, in Dipton, near Stanley, who denied being the Yamaha rider, up to a magistrates' hearing in the case, in June this year, admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at a plea hearing on his first appearance at the crown court, in July.

Calum McNicholas, representing the defendant, told the sentencing hearing that he, “has an acute lack of maturity, as demonstrated by his history.”

Mr McNicholas said Foster had special educational needs as a child and suffered with ADHD and severe emotional difficulties, while he was also the victim of a violent attack for which the perpetrator was jailed.

While acknowledging one of his passengers that day, Forster’s “best friend”, was the principal victim, the accident has had, “a serious impact” on the defendant himself, who spent three weeks in hospital.

Apart from his own injuries, which included a pelvic fracture, for which he may need a hip replacement, and bowel damage, he has since suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

Mr McNicholas said the lingering stomach pain and issues with his left hand, “serve as a constant reminder of what he has done”.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Judge Richard Bennett told Forster: “You drove in a residential area of Stanley at a high speed, past a zebra crossing and performed a wheelie to show off.”

The judge said unlike the defendant, the female driver of Scenic was driving slowly and indicated, before beginning to make, “a perfectly lawful manoeuvre”.

It was then that Forster, riding at between 84 and 89mph, collided with the Scenic, causing both him and his passengers to be thrown off, resulting in “catastrophic injuries” to one of them, for which there remains ongoing issues affecting his long-term quality of life.

The judge said it was, perhaps, only the, “prompt, commendable actions” of the off-duty prison officer that meant the defendant was not facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

He told Forster: “It was a deliberate decision by you to ignore the rules of the road, travelling at speeds significantly in excess of the speed limit.”

Judge Bennett said he accepted the defendant may have struggled to come to terms with the impact of his actions on his best friend.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Rider suffered serious injuries in collision with car near Sedgefield

Disqualified County Durham BMW driver crashes during police chase

Boy in court for death of Connor Loder in Newcastle

Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Get access for 3 months for just £3. Click here.

He imposed a 30-month prison sentence and said it would have been 40 months had he not pleaded guilty when he did.

The judge banned the defendant from driving, either cars or motorbikes, for a total of 39 months and he must sit an extended re-test to lawfully be able to take to the road in future.

Judge Bennett also formally commended the prison officer for her “quick and prompt actions”, which, “may well have saved the life”, of his passenger.