A senior banker caused the death of a motorcyclist by "carelessly" pulling out in his Land Rover Discovery into a country lane and knocking him off his bike, a court has heard.

Derek Shakespeare, who is co-head of UK and Ireland mergers and acquisitions at Barclays bank, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of causing the death by careless driving of 32-year-old Peter Lowe.

Daniel Sawyer, prosecuting, told the jury that the crash happened as Mr Lowe, from Porton, was riding his red Yamaha motorcycle along the A343 from Andover to Salisbury.

Salisbury Journal: Derek ShakespeareDerek Shakespeare

Shakespeare, from Walhampton in the New Forest, pulled out at the junction with the B3058 near Nether Wallop and collided with him, knocking him off his bike causing multiple injuries that killed him, he said.

Mr Sawyer said: "Right of way is to those on the A road with very clear give way signs and markings for those attempting to join it or cross it.

"As Mr Lowe got to that set of cross roads on his motorcycle, a Land Rover Discovery driven by Mr Shakespeare pulled out of the southern part of the road and hit Mr Lowe.

"Mr Lowe was knocked off his bike and he and his bike slid along the road.

"Mr Lowe was immediately knocked unconscious, he suffered multiple injuries and died without regaining consciousness."

Salisbury Journal: The site of the incidentThe site of the incident

Mr Sawyer said the 52-year-old defendant pulled out "because he didn't look carefully enough and his lack of care in checking the road was clear before pulling out caused the death of Mr Lowe".

The prosecutor said that Shakespeare told police that he had stopped at the dotted line and waited for a car coming from the same direction as Mr Lowe.

He said that Shakespeare told officers that "once it had passed he looked again, it was clear, he pulled out and then he heard a bang".

Mr Sawyer said that CCTV showed that Mr Lowe had driven at 63mph in a 30mph zone in a nearby village and had a number of defects on his bike but he said this was not relevant to the cause of the crash.

Salisbury Journal: Peter LowePeter Lowe

He added that Mr Lowe had THC in his blood which showed "recent use of cannabis".

Mr Lowe was described by his family in a statement released after his death as a "kind and caring man who loved his family and pets and riding his bike".

They said: "He was always full of fun and life, compassionate and caring."

Shakespeare denies the offence.