A young man who admitted killing a pensioner while driving dangerously has been jailed.

Macaulay Skirrow, 24, of Freemens Way, Deal, was handed four years and six months custody at Canterbury Crown Court.

Skirrow pleaded guilty to causing the death of motorcyclist Bernard Tomlin in July this year.

The court heard Skirrow’s red Peugeot 106 crashed into Mr Tomlin’s orange Yamaha in Sutton Road, Ripple, on August 23 last year.

Mr Tomlin, in his 70s, was travelling towards the crossroads with Mongeham Road at about 12.45pm when the collision happened.

An air ambulance was called to the village but Mr Tomlin was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The court heard Skirrow had suffered adverse mental health since causing Mr Tomlin’s death and had previously battled problems with drug abuse.

He had been driving while uninsured and with no license.

During the hearing, Skirrow was also disqualified from driving for three years and until extended driving test passed.

Commenting after the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Bob Fursey from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "Skirrow’s decision to ignore the give way sign at the crossroads and to overtake another vehicle that was waiting for the motorbike to pass the junction cost a man his life.

"Not only that, Skirrow was not insured and he did not even hold a licence to drive the vehicle.

"His actions were disgraceful and while no sentence will be ever compensate the family for their loss, I hope that it will at least bring some closure for them at this difficult time."

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