The girlfriend of a motorcycle rider killed by a careless driver in Biddenden has expressed her anger that the man responsible will not be sent to prison.

David Currer was riding near Summers Motors on the A274 Headcorn Road at the junction with Smarden Road when he was knocked off his vehicle by the car driven by Arkadiy Berdikyan on Tuesday, December 1, last year.

The 50-year-old was killed instantly, leaving family and friends of the advanced motorcyclist in shock.

Now 57-year-old Berdikyan, of Shenley Park in Headcorn, has appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

He was given an 18-week suspended prison sentence, and was banned from driving for one year. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and court costs of £85.

Mr Currer’s girlfriend, Anita Humphrey, criticised the sentence.

She said: “It is not good enough. At the end of the day, this man has killed somebody.

“I don’t know what to say. It has taken a long time for us to come this far and he should have been sent to prison.

"It has taken a long time for us to come this far and he should have been sent to prison" - Anita Humphrey

“Within a year he will be back on the road, and what’s to stop something like this happening again?”

Mr Currer, of Shortlands Green, Maidstone, was known as DC.

The 50-year-old had been a volunteer for organisations including Alcoholics Anonymous, and also played a prominent role in organising the Green Park event in Mote Park to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Friend of 30 years Gill Vallance said he was known as a “gentleman biker” who looked out for other people, and has also criticised the sentence.

She said: “It is absolutely disgusting. From what I heard, the motorist that killed him just pulled out and wiped Dave out.

“It is not just death by dangerous driving, it should be seen as vehicular manslaughter. There are no words to describe this.”