Reckless Biker's Deadly Crash Kills Motorcyclist, Lands Him in Jail

In a tragic incident that occurred in May 2024, a 25-year-old off-road biker, Connor Copse, has been sentenced to over 12 years in jail for causing the death of a 68-year-old motorcyclist, Kevin Peacock, through dangerous driving.

Copse was spotted driving erratically in Nottingham and attempted to evade police, reaching speeds of up to 75mph through the city center and running red lights. As he approached a roundabout, Copse drove the wrong way around the island, colliding head-on with Peacock's blue Yamaha motorcycle.

The impact of the crash threw Peacock from his bike, causing him to suffer multiple serious injuries, including a ruptured spleen. Peacock had been diagnosed with blood cancer just eight weeks prior but was on new medication that could have extended his life by 15 years. Tragically, he remained in a coma for three weeks, battling repeated infections due to the loss of his spleen, and ultimately succumbed to multiple organ failure six weeks after the crash.

In a victim impact statement, Peacock's son, Lee, described him as "my leader, my hero, my best friend" and said "he made everything seem possible." Meanwhile, Copse, who also suffered a serious leg injury in the crash, may still require an amputation.

The judge presiding over the case, Steven Coupland, sentenced Copse to 12 years and four months in prison for causing death by dangerous driving. The incident has also triggered a mandatory investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to Nottinghamshire Police's involvement.