Schoolboy, 15, fell to his death from faulty off-road motorbike he bought for £500 off Facebook, inquest hears

A schoolboy motorcyclist was killed when he fell from a faulty off-road bike he bought on Facebook, an inquest heard. 

Talented sportsman Preston Camps-Lee, 15, was described as very bright and a wonderful pupil by his school - but suffered a severe brain injury in the crash.

An inquest heard underage rider Preston had been out with a friend on their motorcycles having bought the Stomp off-road bike online just days earlier.

But he lost control on an S bend on a road when he struck a kerb and fell on Boxing Day 2023.

A police report said Preston had bought the bike for £500 after seeing it advertised on Facebook marketplace despite it being sold with a faulty back brake.

His family called for a new law to be put in place to ban the sale of motorbikes to underage riders without parental permission.

His grandmother Kay Camps said: I think there should be a law that a bike should not be sold to a minor without the parents consent.

The bike was advertised as a beast and ready to ride. It was a beast - it killed my grandson.

Talented sportsman Preston Camps-Lee, 15, was described as very bright and a wonderful pupil by his school - but suffered a severe brain injury in the crash

An inquest heard underage rider Preston had been out with a friend on their motorcycles having bought the Stomp off-road bike online just days earlier

A police report said Preston had bought the bike for £500 after seeing it advertised on Facebook marketplace despite it being sold with a faulty back brake

His life was worth more than £500, that bike was not road worthy.

Mrs Camps thanked passersby and emergency services who stopped to help Preston saying: I will be forever grateful for these people who comforted my grandson when I couldnt.

Coroner Aled Gruffydd said he was considering writing a prevention of future deaths report to support the familys call for a law change and suggested they also raise the issue with their local MP.

The hearing was told the bike also had an underinflated front tyre and Preston - who held a part-time job with a window company - had little or no experience as a rider.

Prestons helmet fell off during the collision and he suffered significant head injuries and he died in hospital the following day.

Preston and his friend had been riding on off-road land to practice on the bike before taking it onto the road to head towards a mountain.

But he crashed not long into the journey on a B-road in Cwmavon, near his hometown of Port Talbot, South Wales.

Police investigators said they could not determine how fast he had been riding nor whether the faulty brake had contributed to his fall.

The Swansea inquest heard how Preston was conveyed to hospital but suffered a hypoxic brain injury which was un-survivable.

The medical cause of his death was given as traumatic brain injury as a result of a motorcycle accident.

His family called for a new law to be put in place to ban the sale of motorbikes to underage riders without parental permission

The hearing was told the bike also had an underinflated front tyre and Preston - who held a part-time job with a window company - had little or no experience as a rider

The Swansea inquest heard how Preston was conveyed to hospital but suffered a hypoxic brain injury which was un-survivable

Coroner Aled Gruffydd said: Preston had previously shown no interest in motorcycles and had little or no experience in riding them.

In the days before Christmas he had become enthusiastic about buying a motorcycle and seems to have taken it upon himself to spend money given to him as gifts and from his employment to purchase an off-road motorbike.

Mr Gruffydd said Preston had been advised by a friend not to buy the motorbike which had a faulty back brake but he did so anyway.

The two boys were riding towards a mountain when Preston lost control and scraped along the road before he fell from the vehicle.

He said: The motorbike being ridden by Preston was in poor condition with a non-functioning rear brake, this may have affected his ability to slow for the corner although it cannot be stated definitively.

Mr Gruffydd returned a conclusion of road traffic collision.

Following Prestons death, his heartbroken mum Kelly described Preston both as her baby and the man of the house.

She said: Sadly today we had to turn off the the life support of our baby and man of the house, the big boss man.

She said Preston kept us all together and was a little man who was loved by everyone.

She added: Sleep tight my son xx.

In a letter to parents, his school, St Josephs Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre, said: Preston was a wonderful pupil, incredibly polite and smiled throughout his time in St. Josephs Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre. He will be sorely missed.