A 78-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving.

James Russell was driving a Skoda Karoq when he pulled out onto the A352 in front of 47-year-old Darren Bridgway, who was riding a blue Triumph motorcycle.

Bridgway, who was also from Sherborne, died at the scene of the crash, which happened at around 10am on November 28 last year.

Russell, of Boys Hill Drive in Sherborne, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court yesterday, November 19.

Prosecutor Mr Newman said: "Mr Russell was driving along the junction of Boys Hill Drive and the A352 in Sherborne. Mr Russell was driving the vehicle and his wife was in the front passenger seat.

"He slowed, aiming to turn right and drive north. Darren Bridgway was riding a Triumph Trophy motorcycle, going south along the A352.

"Mr Russell pulled out of that junction and Mr Bridgway collided with his vehicle.

"Sadly, Darren passed away at the scene. He was 47-years-old and he was a barber.

"The standard of driving fell below that of a standard competent driver. Darren would have been there to be seen by Mr Russell and unfortunately he didn't."

Mr Newman added that an aggravating factor of the crash was that Mr Russell's wife sustained a fractured sternum as well.

Mr Millard, defending for Russell, said: "Sadly this is an all too typical piece of careless driving which resulted in the most tragic of consequences for Mr Bridgway and his family.

"It is a junction that he knows well. He was obscured by some signage as he approached the junction but he failed to look again to his right. If he had looked again to his right then it's quite clear Mr Bridgway would have been seen."

Mr Millard added that Russell has not driven since the incident, surrendered his licence to the DVLA and "has no interest" in driving again.

Russell appeared in court via video link, due to him awaiting investigation for cancer treatment and not wanting to contract coronavirus by coming to court in person, which would put his treatment at risk.

He will be sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court on January 21 next year. In the meantime he has been handed an interim driving ban and placed on unconditional bail.