Man admits causing motorcyclist's death by careless driving
A man has admitted causing the death of a Telford grandfather by careless driving following a crash in Mid Wales last year.
Gordon Finley, 59, of Ffordd Alban, Tywyn, Gwynedd, was driving a Citroen Picasso car near Machynlleth last year when he was involved in a crash with a motorcycle being ridden by 67-year-old Malcolm Willis.
Mr Willis died of his injuries, and at Mold Crown Court yesterday, Finley appeared in the dock where he admitted driving without due care and attention and causing the death of Mr Willis.
Judge Rhys Rowlands imposed an interim driving ban on the defendant ahead of sentencing next month, and said all sentencing options would remain open including custody.
The court heard how the crash happened in Aberhosan, near Machynlleth, on May 8 last year, when Mr Willis, described by his family as a passionate motorcyclist, was riding a silver Kawasaki motorcycle.
Prosecutor David Mainstone told the court that a tyre had largely been excluded from causing the collision, and that the tragic incident had been put down to driver error.
Phillip Clemo, for Finley, said it was obviously a very tragic cause, and a tribute from Mr Willis's family described him as a "beloved father and grandfather", whose passion was motorcycles.
The family said: "He will be terribly missed and never ever forgotten. He is in our hearts as long as they still beat.”
The court was told that Finley suffered from extraordinary ill health, and he was re-bailed pending sentence on June 28.
It was also stated that at the sentencing hearing two victim impact statements would be provided by Mr Willis's family.
Judge Rowlands ordered a pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service, and said the defendant's early guilty plea would lead to a reduction in his sentence.
