Driver, 81, sentenced over death of motorcyclist

An 81-year-old driver has been given a suspended prison sentence for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a crash near Boroughbridge.

William Beckett pulled into the path of a motorbike ridden by 64-year-old Nick Gilroy at Aldborough on 20 May 2023, York Crown Court heard. The victim died of his injuries two months later.

Beckett, of Vernham Dean in Hampshire, was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months, after being found guilty of causing death by careless driving.

Sentencing him on Friday, Judge Sean Morris said he had shown "not one line of remorse", adding: "I'd dearly love to lock you up. Now go away and hang your head in shame."

The court heard Beckett pulled out from Front Street onto the B6265 and into the path of the motorcycle, throwing the rider from the bike.

Judge Morris told Beckett: "You have caused the death of a much-loved family member, a man who had also served his country in the fighting forces and through your carelessness you snuffed out his life.

"There is no defence in this case. The motorbike was there to be seen."

The judge rejected Beckett's account that cyclists had obscured his view.

"You tried to blame cyclists, which was a nonsense, and you tried to blame the deceased for not having lights on. He did have lights on," he said.

The prosecution said the collision was "no momentary lapse of concentration".

Paul Mitchell told the court the motorcyclist had been visible to Beckett for about nine seconds before the collision.

In a statement read to the court, the victim's sister Brenda Dowling said: "Our baby brother was taken from us so suddenly, we are totally devastated and miss him so much.

"Nick was a lovely, clever man and a decent human being.

"He was the victim of a totally unnecessary crash. Our brother's life was gone in a flash and we are left without him forever."

She said her brother took safety seriously, held an advanced motorcycle qualification and had completed an extensively planned motorcycle journey across the United States without incident.

He was also an RAF veteran and writer who authored a book about his travels.

Beckett's defence barrister urged the court to suspend any prison sentence, citing Beckett's age, previous good character and clean driving record.

Judge Morris said: "It is the will of Parliament that I have to suspend the sentence."

Beckett was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, made subject to a six-month electronically monitored curfew between 18:00 and 06:00, and disqualified from driving for three years.

Explaining the curfew, Judge Morris told Beckett: "I am imprisoning you in your own house."

Addressing the defendant directly, Judge Morris said: "If you breach my order then I will lock you up, and half of me hopes you do, because I'd dearly love to lock you up."

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