A teenager left permanently disabled after he was knocked off his bike by a driver who did not stop after the collision told a court about the “life-altering” impact of the incident and the “profound” damage done to his spirit.

Quadae Baker, who lost the use of his right forearm in the collision, revealed how his injuries had affected him and his family in a victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing of Ebony Butterfield in the Supreme Court yesterday.

Butterfield, 33, from Sandys, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Baker by careless driving, as well as failing to provide a breath sample and not immediately stopping after a collision.

The court heard that she was driving east along Middle Road near the junction with Woodlawn Road in Sandys when she struck a motorcycle, ridden by Mr Baker, in the westbound lane at about 11.45pm on January 3, 2025.

She continued to drive east and stopped at Southampton Rangers Sports Club, where she was later found by police.

Butterfield was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station, where she agreed to provide a sample of breath. However, the court heard she failed to provide an adequate sample, which was deemed a refusal.

Matthew Frick, for the Crown, said the collision had caused permanent injuries to Mr Baker, who was 16 at the time of the incident.

The teenager’s victim impact statement, read to the court, said the incident had had a “life-altering” impact on himself and his family.

Mr Baker wrote that after the collision he was told he was disabled and had permanently lost the use of his right arm below the elbow.

He wrote: “Hearing those words at such a young age felt like my future had been pre-written without my consent.

“The damage done to my body was severe but the damage done to my spirit has been just as profound.

“Knowing that this pain was caused by someone else’s careless actions has made it even harder to accept.

“I continue to live with constant physical discomfort but it’s the emotional suffering that often feels the heaviest.”

Mr Baker said that after the collision he had felt moments of helplessness. He noted that he was unable to comfort his younger siblings as he usually would and had to struggle with the frustration of relearning basic skills such as writing.

In another statement, Mr Baker’s mother wrote that the incident had also had a financial toll on the family because, in addition to medical costs, she was unable to work for nine months because she was caring for her son.

Mr Frick said that the offence should carry a custodial sentence, noting that traffic offences were “highly prevalent” on the island.

However, he noted Butterfield’s early guilty plea and lack of any previous offences, including traffic offences and her expressions of remorse.

As a result, Mr Frick suggested a suspended six-month sentence, together with a three-year disqualification from driving all vehicles.

Charles Richardson, the counsel for Butterfield, said that it was difficult to find comparative cases because careless driving cases were usually dealt with by Magistrates’ Court.

He urged the court not to treat the case as if it were a more serious dangerous driving case.

While Mr Richardson said the two offences could result in similarly unfortunate consequences, careless driving often involved only a momentary loss of concentration.

He told the court that his client had continued to drive out of anxiety rather than an intention to escape justice and that she was fully co-operative once she had calmed down.

Mr Richardson also noted that his client was insured at the time of the collision and he understood that her conviction in the case may help alleviate some of the hardships faced by Mr Baker’s family.

Butterfield apologised to Mr Baker and his family and said that she had wanted to do so from the day of the collision but was advised not to because of the legal action.

She said: “I am sorry for everything I put you and your family, and even your friends through.

“If I could go back in time, I would do that. I mean it from the depths of my heart.”

Puisne Judge Alan Richards reserved sentence in the matter until next week, when the case will return to the Supreme Court.

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