A WOMAN broke down in tears after the man who nearly killed her when she accepted a ride on his motorbike was found guilty of dangerous driving.

Lisa Haywood had ridden about half-a-mile as a pillion passenger when Ian Gray stopped and persuaded her to sit at the front to feel how heavy the bike was.

He then set off at speed, hitting a kerb and catapulting his terrified passenger into a lamp post.

The 33-year-old mother of one was left with terrible injuries, including a ruptured kidney - which had to be removed - a ruptured main artery and several broken bones.

Gray, a former friend of Lisa's brother, now faces a possible prison sentence after trying to blame his victim for the accident during his trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

After the verdict, Lisa told the Daily Echo: "I have got what I wanted. It's over for me now.

"I have proved he's a liar.

"He nearly killed me. I think he should go to prison for at least three years. He made me go through the court case. He said I was driving the bike, but I had never been on one before. I was screaming: 'Get me off the bike'. Witnesses could hear me screaming.

"I flew into someone's garden and the bike landed on top of me. Ian came and picked up the bike, stabilised it, walked off and left me.

"I can't bear him. He didn't care what happened to me, but I have to live with it for the rest of my life. I will always be in pain."

Doctors did not expect Lisa to live, but she discharged herself from hospital after 12 days and was nursed at home for the next six months by her devoted partner Steve Roberts.

The couple had to postpone their wedding, which had been due to take place last summer, but finally tied the knot on July 31 this year.

Gray, 36, of Field End, Pinner, Middlesex, was remanded on bail until next Friday, August 27, for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

The judge, Mr Recorder Nigel Seed, expressed his concern over Gray's "lack of insight" and warned him: "You have been convicted of a serious offence. All sentencing options remain open."

First published: August 19