Man jailed for killing teenage motorcyclist Sonny Stephenson

The killer of teenage motorcyclist Sonny Stephenson has been jailed for six years.

Matthew Buckworth, 34, killed the 17-year-old, who was riding his motorcycle and carrying a pillion passenger, in Guisborough last August.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Teesside Crown Court heard Buckworth threw a spade at the teenager.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, The Recorder of Middlesbrough, sentenced Buckworth, of Charlton’s Garth, Guisborough, to six years behind bars.

He was initially charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month.

He also admitted attempted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Sonny was on a motorcycle, with a 15-year-old pillion passenger when it was involved in a crash in Bolckow Street, around 9.15pm on August 27.

Sonny was pronounced dead at the scene.

The bike’s passenger was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with non-life-threatening injuries.