A learner driver who caused a serious crash that left a motorcyclist with life-changing injuries has received a suspended prison sentence.
Curtis Brooks, 33, was driving on Mansfield Road in Clipstone on 13 June 2025 when he approached a roundabout in the left lane and then suddenly swerved to the right, colliding with a motorcycle travelling alongside him.
The 66-year-old motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and suffered multiple fractures, including injuries to his spine, neck and 13 ribs. He also sustained brain damage and nerve damage to his left arm and hand.
In a victim impact statement, the rider said he had previously been fit and independent, but now lives with constant pain and ongoing physical and mental difficulties.
At the time of the collision, Brooks was driving on a provisional licence while being supervised by his partner, who was using a mobile phone. His vehicle was not displaying L-plates.
Brooks, of Manvers View, Boughton, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and driving without a licence.
At Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 January, he was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also banned from driving for 12 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and required to attend 12 rehabilitation sessions.
Case Investigator Sophie Law, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Although this result cannot change the fact that the victim has suffered such serious injuries, I hope Brooks facing the courts can provide some comfort to him and his family.
“This incident goes to show how ignoring the rules of the road can have serious consequences for not just the driver, but for other road users.
“Learner drivers are held to the same standards as any fully qualified driver, and we would expect them to be safely supervised too.”
