An Ipswich man seriously injured a toddler when he rode into her whilst riding an electric unicycle.
Andrew Wickenden, 50, of Old Norwich Road, Ipswich, admitted the following offences at an earlier hearing:
- Causing serious injury by careless driving;
- Driving a motor vehicle without valid third-party insurance;
- Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He was sentenced at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Friday, 27th June 2025.
Magistrates heard that the collision took place on Sunday, 3rd November 2024, when Wickenden was riding his Begode electric unicycle along the promenade at Folkestone - an area used exclusively by pedestrians and cyclists that has no access to motor vehicles.
In common with electric scooters, it is not possible to obtain third-party insurance to cover the use of an electric unicycle. As such, they should only ever be used on private land. That said, anyone choosing to use an electric unicycle in a public place is subject to the same rules of the road as any other motor vehicle.
It was a nice afternoon and the prom was busy with pedestrians. Wickenden, who is clearly having some sort of midlife crisis, was seen weaving between the pedestrians and was playing music from a loudspeaker at the time.
CCTV footage captured the moment he rode into a two-year-old girl, causing her to crash to the ground in agony. The child was rushed to hospital by ambulance and later diagnosed with a fractured skull and bleed on the brain.
In a victim personal statement, the young girl's mother said: "After four hours of being monitored in A&E she was discharged but four hours later she woke up screaming in agony.
"To see my daughter in a situation I couldn't prevent was heartbreaking.
"No child let alone a two-year-old should have to go through that.
"The pain prevented her from doing anything she would usually do such as playing running or even laughing."
The mother noted that Wickenden seemed less concerned about the girl's injuries; more concerned about getting on his way.
Wickenden, a father-of-three, told the police that he was travelling at low speed - despite CCTV footage seemingly showing otherwise - and trying to keep next to the wall in order to minimise contact with pedestrians.
Addressing the court, he said: "I am devastated at the thought of this young girl sustaining an injury as a result of this incident and I have had sleepless nights thinking about it."
Magistrates were of the view that Wickenden's offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
He was sentenced to 14-weeks' custody suspended for 12 months, with the requirement that he completes 150 hours' unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £154 surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.
Wickenden was also disqualified from driving (or riding) for a period of 18 months.
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