Community work for driver who caused death of Colchester biker (From Essex County Standard)

Community work for driver who caused death of Colchester biker

2:09pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News

A motorist who caused a crash in which a Colchester man died has been ordered to carry out unpaid community work.

David Simmons, 57, pulled into the path of motorcyclist Andrew Henderson on the A12 in Suffolk.

Mr Henderson, 33, of Wolton Road, Colchester, was unable to avoid a collision and sustained fatal injuries in the incident on February 19.

Today at Ipswich Crown Court, Simmons, of Park Lane, Kirton, was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for 18 months. He must also pay £2,000 prosecution costs.

Simmons had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Judge John Devaux told Simmons: "This is not so much a case of a single misjudgement, rather it is a case of failing to see what was there to be seen."

Simmons, who had driven for 30 years without incident and had no previous convictions, had expressed remorse and sympathy for what happened, said Richard Wood, defending.

Simmons could not explain what happened but denied having seen the motorcycle and then taken a chance.