Suspended sentence for man who gave motorcyclist 'no chance'

A Derbyshire man has been handed a 12 month suspended prison sentence after his careless driving caused the death of a retained firefighter.

51-year-old James Ricketts was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse today after a jury convicted him of the offence yesterday.

The Matlock man was doing a three point turn on the Laxey to Ramsey Coast Road on August 6^th last year when he blocked the path of oncoming motorcyclist Neil Walker.

The 43-year-old was riding his motorbike towards Ramsey and was left with “no chance” to avoid the collision – he died at the scene.

Sentencing him Deemster Birkett suspended the sentence for two years and disqualified him from driving for three years – he also ordered him to pay £8,000 in costs.