This is the moment an e-bike rider was pursued by angry witnesses after ploughing down a woman he left battling for her life.
Former footballer Kian Monks, 22, was seen cowered and bloodied after causing the injuries to 70-year-old grandmother Margaret Scaldwell in Wigan.
She spent time in a coma and suffered life-changing injuries including a broken spine – and has now accused ‘selfish’ Monks of having ‘ruined’ her life.
Monks has now been handed a 22-month prison sentence, after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving and driving with no licence or insurance.
He was also found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a collision, failing to report a collision and failing to provide a specimen for analysis following a serious collision, Greater Manchester Police said.
The ex-Wigan Athletic youth prospect was riding a Talaria Sting e-bike in August 2023 when colliding with Ms Scaldwell on Orell Road in the Greater Manchester town.
Monks, then aged 19, had hit speeds of 40mph in a 30mph zone on the off-road e-bike that had its speed limiter disconnected.
Ms Scaldwell was sent flying through the air by the impact and landed several metres away, with her head smashing off the pavement.
Former footballer Kian Monks, 22, was seen cowered and bloodied after causing the injuries to 70-year-old grandmother Margaret Scaldwell in Wigan
E-bike rider Monks was pursued by angry witnesses after ploughing down a woman he left battling for her life
His victim spent time in a coma and suffered life-changing injuries including a broken spine
She suffered a broken spine, pelvis, arms and 19 broken ribs – and has been left unable to feed herself following the sickening crash.
Monks was riding the bike alongside Joel Pilling, 22, and both men fled the scene – leaving behind their victim lying in the middle of the busy A577.
Video footage shows members of the public chasing and detaining Monks, while Pilling handed himself in to police later in the day.
Monks is seen with blood pouring down his face, pleading innocence as he insisted: ‘I wasn’t driving, it wasn’t me. I’ve hit my head. I’ve hurt my head and my jaw.’
Monks, who had a provisional licence and no insurance, has now been sentenced for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Pilling, who owned the motorbike but held no licence, was given a 22-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
Both men were banned from driving at Bolton Crown Court – Monks for four years and Pilling for two.
In a statement released after sentencing, Ms Scaldwell said: ‘These men’s selfishness have ruined my life.
Video footage shows members of the public chasing and detaining Monks in August 2023
Monks was riding the bike alongside Joel Pilling, 22, and both men fled the scene – leaving behind their victim lying in the middle of the busy A577 in Greater Manchester
Monks is seen with blood pouring down his face, pleading innocence as he insisted: ‘I wasn’t driving, it wasn’t me. I’ve hit my head. I’ve hurt my head and my jaw’
‘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.’
The Talaria Sting off-road bike is marketed at a cost of £3,795 and is considered a motor vehicle under the law, requiring an insurance and licence to use on-road – while having a top speed of 47mph, with a range of 63 miles.
Det Const Steve Pennington, of Greater Manchester Police, said after the case: ‘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.
‘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.
Monks, who had a provisional licence and no insurance, has now been sentenced for causing serious injury by dangerous driving
Both defendants have been banned from driving at Bolton Crown Court – Monks for four years and Pilling for two
‘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.
‘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.’
