A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has been cautioned after causing ‘life-changing injuries’ to a motorcyclist by tying a rope between two trees on a woodland path.

Connor Cahalane-Toon, 17, was rushed to hospital with serious neck and wind-pipe injuries after hitting the rope while riding in woodland near St Neots, Cambridgeshire.

He spent seven weeks in hospital including two-and-a-half in an induced coma. 

Cambridgeshire Police said he was ‘still recovering from what is a life-changing injury to his vocal cords’.

Police launched an appeal for information after the crash on April 24 and a 14-year-old boy from the St Neots area was voluntarily interviewed.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was issued a youth caution for causing grievous bodily harm without intent. He must also attend sessions with the Youth Offending Service.

Detective Constable Tom Nuttall said: ‘It was agreed by Connor and his family, alongside the Crown Prosecution Service, for an out-of-court disposal, which has resulted in the caution being issued.

‘Connor has come a long way since he was injured and even though he is still recovering from what is a life-changing injury to his vocal chords, hopefully within a few years he will have recovered as fully as he can and be able to move on with his life.’

A CPS spokesman said the boy admitted responsibility and the decision to issue a caution instead of going to court was taken ‘after full consideration of the evidence available, the remorse shown and discussions with the family of the victim and with Cambridgeshire police’.

He said it was a ‘reckless action that the youth, who was of previous good character, did not foresee would end in the victim receiving a serious injury’.

The victim’s mother Nicola Toon said her son owed his life to the ‘skill and care’ of paramedics and specialists of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. 

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