Five-year-old Arlo Buckley was left fighting for his life after being struck by an off-road motorbike on Central Drive, Shotton. The shocking mid-day crash in September 2024 stunned residents, who watched helplessly as Arlo lay seriously injured.
Rider Flees Scene, Family Conspires to Cover Up
Kaylem Longhurst, then just 16, hit Arlo and didn’t stop. Believing he’d killed the boy, he ripped off his balaclava and bolted home, ignoring desperate calls for help. Instead of returning, Longhurst phoned his mum, Terry Follows. Follows didn’t call the police. Instead, she masterminded a cover-up. She enlisted Longhurst’s sister, Cara Haran, to burn his clothes. The motorbike was dumped in nearby undergrowth. A plan was hatched to spirit Longhurst away to York, where Haran had family ties. Even Shane Hunt, Haran’s ex-partner, helped drive Longhurst to safety. Judge Simon Mills blasted the plot as a “conspiracy to pervert the course of justice” aimed at pinning the crime on a stolen bike and shifting blame elsewhere.
Jury Sees Through Lies, Justice Served
Haran cracked under police pressure and handed over the truth. But Longhurst, Follows, and Hunt stuck to their lies — until the jury saw through their deception. All four were convicted. The judge praised police for an expert manhunt and slammed Follows for her “callous” refusal to hand in her son, despite previous warnings about his illegal riding. Longhurst had even Googled potential hit-and-run sentences beforehand.
Sentences: Jail for All Conspirators
- Kaylem Longhurst, 18, sentenced to 14 months detention for conspiracy and dangerous driving.
- Terry Follows, 43, Longhurst’s mum, handed 26 months for leading the cover-up.
- Shane Hunt, 39, ex-partner of Longhurst’s sister, got 21 months for conspiracy.
- Cara Haran, 25, Longhurst’s sister, jailed 9 months for destroying evidence.
Family Devastated as Arlo Battles Long Road to Recovery
Arlo remains under specialist neurological care, with uncertain long-term effects. His father Danny said the ordeal was “every parent’s worst nightmare.” His mum Hannah was “petrified” her little boy would die.
“He just looked lifeless,” she said. “He’s changed from a playful, cuddly boy to someone who gets overwhelmed by crowds.”
This tragic crash and subsequent cover-up shook the community and serves as a grim warning about the consequences of reckless riding and dishonesty.
