EXCLUSIVE: Under 18s at risk after illegally getting delivery driver licences warns coroner after death of boy on motorbike

UNDER 18s are able to illegally "rent" food delivery licences from firms such as Uber Eats too easily, putting them in danger of death, a coroner has warned.

Brendan Allen, Area Coroner for Dorset, has written to the firm and its rivals Just Eat and Deliveroo, following an inquest into the death of Brazilian teen Leonardo Cardoso-Machado who died after crashing a motorbike which he drove at high speed to avoid police.

Bournemouth Coroners Court heard that the 17-year-old was delivering for Uber Eats at the time, despite being too young.

Mr Allen wrote in a Prevention of Future Deaths report, that was also sent to the Home Office: "Leo 'rented' an Uber Eats

delivery licence, though he was too young to obtain such a licence himself.

"As a result of the rented licence, Leo was able to earn money as a food delivery driver."

Thecourt heard that in the early hours of April 16 2023 he was riding a 599cc Yamaha sports bike with an Uber Eats delivery box attached to the rear.

Mr Allen added in his report: "He was not licenced to use such a motorcycle, which requires a full category A driving licence, with the

licence holder being 21 years of age or older. Leo had been stationary on the motorcycle at a red light when approached by police. He made off at speed and subsequently lost control of the motorcycle, colliding with metal railings and sustaining injuries that caused his death."

He died at Lindsay Road near the junction with St Aldhelm's Rd, Poole, at about12:20am.

Mr Allen wrote: "On balance of probability the fact the police attempted to effect a traffic stop at the County Gates Gyratory caused Leo to 'make off' at high speed through the red traffic lights to continue to travel at speed along Lindsay Rd. The cause of death was traumatic head and neck injuries caused by the road traffic collision."

Police denied they were actually in pursuit of him during the inquest and the report has only been sent to Dorset Police and the Independent Office of Police Conduct as interested parties.

MrAllen was more concerned about the lack of oversight of the licensing of delivery drivers.

He added: "There is significant national concern about the 'rental' of food delivery licences to under 18s. In general terms, food delivery platforms place age restrictions on those who can obtain a licence to deliver food. However, there appears to be no oversight of the rental of these licences to those under the age limit."

He said this places children in a vulnerable position of lone working, often at night, riding electric or motorised scooters, mopeds or motorcycles and delivering to individuals that are not known to the drivers, placing them in a vulnerable position.

He wrote: "As a consequence, children are working in the food delivery economy, which involves lone working at night, with deliveries being made to the home addresses of private individuals, placing the children in a vulnerable position.

"Placing children in a lone working environment at night and on the roads on electric or motorised scooters, mopeds or motorcycles

also increases the risks of them coming to harm through a road traffic collision, leading to a risk of death."

Uber Eats said that since the tragedy its ID verification processes have evolved significantly including account-sharing detection technology, to ensure only the account holder or registered substitutes are using the account, with daily real-time facial verification checks randomly scheduled.

An Uber Eats spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of this incident and stand ready to support law enforcement with further investigation. The safety of couriers, customers and community is of the utmost importance to us and we have introduced industry-leading technology to ensure only the account holder and registered substitutes are using any Uber Eats courier account.”

A Just Eatspokesperson said: "There is nothing more important than courier safety and at Just Eat we have strict policies and checks in place to ensure that couriers are over 18 and meet all licensing requirements."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This was a deeply regrettable incident, and our thoughts remain with Leo’s family and friends at this time.

“This government has taken firm action to tackle illegal working and is working closely with industry partners to ensure that only registered account holders can access the platforms.”

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "First and foremost, we would like to express our condolences to the family of Leonardo Cardoso Machado and our thoughts remain with them.

"We fully engaged and cooperated with the coronial process where the circumstances of the incident were explored in detail.

"Following the collision, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an independent investigation. However, no misconduct was identified."

An IOPC spokesman said: "Our sympathies remain with Leonardo’s family and friends and everyone affected by his death.

“Following a referral from Dorset Police in April 2023, we investigated all the circumstances surrounding the collision which resulted in the death of the 17-year-old.

“At the end of our investigation in May 2024, we provided our report to the force and the coroner to assist with the inquest proceedings, as well as sharing it with Leonardo’s family.

“We established that shortly before 12.20am on 16 April 2023, two Dorset Police officers saw a motorbike rider who seemed to match the description of a suspect they had been asked to look for whilst on patrol in Poole. The PCs also noted the motorbike seemed to be exceeding the speed limit and that Leonardo was using a mobile phone.

“When the motorbike stopped at traffic lights, the police driver turned on his vehicle’s blue lights and his colleague left the car and approached Leonardo, telling him to “wait there”., Leonardo then drove through the red light, away from police. They followed him into Lindsay Road, close to the junction with St Aldhelm’s Road. Moments later, the officers were advised by a member of the public that his motorbike had collided with a fence and sadly he died at the scene.

“Taking into account all the evidence, we determined the officers’ actions were appropriate and proportionate and in line with policies, procedures and their training. We advised the police driver to undertake the reflective practice review process to ensure there was no misunderstanding over the definition of pursuit driving as stated in both national College of Policing guidance and local force policy.

Deliveroo was also contacted for comment.