Nicholls amateur Lorcan Williams handed suspended prison sentence

Up-and-coming amateur jump jockey Lorcan Williams has received a suspended prison sentence after injuring a motorcyclist when he fell asleep at the wheel of his car.

The 18-year-old, who works for Paul Nicholls and has ridden ten winners this season, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court.

Williams, who lives in Shepton Mallet, was driving his BMW towards Bristol in August last year when he fell asleep, swerved across the road into another car and knocked Daniel Hills off his motorbike.

The court was told Hills suffered numerous injuries, including a broken right leg in two places, a broken hand and lacerations to the arm, for which he underwent four operations in the first week after the accident and spent nearly seven weeks in hospital.

Hills said in a statement his life had become "a living hell" because of his injuries, which would take 18 months to heal properly.

Williams' barrister Stephen Mooney said the rider had not realised how tired he was when he got in his car and was not under the influence of alcohol.

He said Williams recognised the seriousness of the offence, but added a custodial sentence would jeopardise his promising career.

In issuing the sentence Judge Michael Longman took into account Williams' previous good character, the amount of remorse shown and his guilty plea.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com