A YOUNG man is starting a six month sentence for causing the death of a close friend in a motorbike accident nearly two years ago.

The victim, Marc Needham, 17, from Querns Place, Canterbury, died of severe head injuries and multiple fractures after coming off the bike on which he was riding pillion when it was in collision with a car.

The tragedy happened late at night in Littlebourne, near Canterbury, in May 2001, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

The off-road style scrambler bike belonged to Royston Hart, 20, of The Elders, Littlebourne, who was sent to a young offenders institution for six months and banned for four years having admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard the bike should not have been on the public road. It had no lights, no pillion foot rests and no number plates. Its tyre pressures were low and Hart, who was 18 at the time, had no driving licence.

Mr Needham died when the bike was in collision with a car making a right hand turn in the village, but the driver was unable to see the machine and was only aware it was a motorbike that hit her windscreen after the impact. Mr Needham had not been wearing a crash helmet.

Counsel for Hart said the accident had affected him physically and emotionally. He suffered serious leg injuries and now walked with a crutch having spent eight weeks in hospital undergoing several operations.

Sentencing Hart, the judge said the offence was too serious for anything other than a custodial sentence although he took into account the profound effects Hart had suffered.