Grieving Manchester mother launches campaign to ban 'death machines' e-scooters this Christmas

Play Brightcove video ITV News' Emma Sweeney reports on a grieving mother's campaign to ban e-scooters and e-bikes for Christmas. A grieving mother is urging other parents not to buy "death machine" e-scooters and e-bikes for Christmas after losing her son. Jacob Calland, 14, died after the e-scooter he was riding on the back of crashed into a car in Wythenshawe. He suffered a serious head injury and was quickly treated by paramedics who had arrived via air ambulance.

Neither Jacob or the driver of the scooter, who was also 14, were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. After eight days at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital , Jacob died on March 27 2025. ‘If I can stop one parent buying an e-scooter this Christmas it’s all worth it’ Carly Calland's 14-year-old son Jacob died after the e-scooter he was riding on the back of crashed into a car in Wythenshawe. Credit: ITV News Going into the second Christmas without her son, his mum Carly has been campaigning for tighter restrictions.

She said: "Coming down Christmas morning to presents for your child because you naturally still buy them. "We try and get him involved as much as we can but that's the reality of my life. "I've got an empty chair with a teddy bear carrying my son's ashes in it with Jaxley, Jacob's little brother, trying to make the best of a really rubbish situation. "That situation can be avoided by not giving them these death machines". Mother who lost son in e-scooter accident calls for tighter laws to save lives Jacob suffered a serious head injury and was quickly treated by paramedics who had arrived via air ambulance.

Credit: Family photo Carly added: "It's so much better to feel that guilt of saying no to your child than feeling the guilt of killing them, because that's what you're doing you're giving them a killing machine". In the UK, it is already illegal to ride e-scooters on public roads, pavements, or cycle lanes. If caught, the rider can be fined and have their scooter seized. The e-scooter Jacob was a passenger on wasn't his - Carly says she had already had arguments with Jacob after refusing to buy him one.

Carly said: "I am feeling a lot more positive this year, and I feel like I can give people a clearer message this year. "I don't want you to go through what I'm going through - not having Jacob at my Christmas table and the heartbreak of Jaxley coming down in the morning and sat with a teddy bear, it's just what people don't see. "I need to give people that because if you buy your child these e-scooters that could be you this Christmas or next."

Greater Manchester Police Superintendent Mike Russell and Carly Calland. Credit: ITV News She said: "These are not toys, they are a motorised vehicle, they are illegal, and they shouldn't be given to children as presents on Christmas Day. "If you buy your child that e-scooter for Christmas day and they go out and have an accident, that's on you and just put yourself with that feeling before you buy that e-scooter." The teenager who caused Jacob's death was also 14, and sustained serious injuries including a bleed on the brain and numerous fractures.

He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court to a 18-month rehabilitation order on June 30 after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. Greater Manchester Police Superintendent Mike Russell. Credit: ITV News Greater Manchester Police Superintendent Mike Russell said: "Sadly one child a month ends up in critical care as a result of using an e-scooter or an e-bike and that number is just growing and growing. "That is really severe injuries that is not what we class as a minor injury and often injuries from using this type of modes of transport are more than just a bit of a graze.

"Some of the speeds they can do - 30 to 40 miles an hour, if you come off one of those as an e-scooter or e-bike, there's some serious consequences for you". Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...