by Keith Hunt

A driver whose carelessness caused the death of a motorcyclist has been sentenced to a community order.

John Peto walked free after a judge paid tribute to victim Mike Hill as a loving and caring father who was looking forward to retirement.

"Nothing that has happened in this courtroom and nothing I can say, nor anything the defendant can say, will restore Mike Hill to his family or assist them in their grief," he added.

Peto, of Wheatsheaf Close, Boughton-under-Blean, denied causing death by careless driving, but was convicted by a 10-2 majority.

The 63-year-old Dunkirk parish councillor was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with 150 hours unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £2,500 court costs.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Peto took a chance and suddenly turned his Honda Civic across the keen motorcyclist's path on Whitstable Road, Faversham, on September 22 last year.

Mr Hill, 60, from Faversham, braked heavily and skidded into the side of the car. He was flung from his Triumph 1100cc bike and struck a VW Transporter van.

He was trapped underneath the van and died at the scene from multiple injuries.

He had been for lunch with friends at the nearby Three Horseshoes pub in Staplestreet and was on his way to work in Sittingbourne.

Judge Jeremy Carey was told Peto, who retired from his job with the NHS on medical grounds, had not driven since the accident.