THE danger of speeding motorcyclists has been “graphically and tragically shown” by the death of a young biker, a coroner said.

Craig Garratt, of Colewood Drive, Strood, died after a high-speed collision at the Swanscombe cutting on the London-bound A2 on June 23 last year.

Police crash investigators said his 398cc Kawasaki was travelling at a minimum of 70mph between lanes of slow-moving traffic before crashing into a red BMW as the car changed lanes.

Coroner Roger Hatch said: “It’s a very dangerous manoeuvre for motorcyclists to do, moving up on the inside of moving traffic.”

One witness judged the speed to be about 110mph. “He was going like a rocket. He was travelling very, very quickly,” he said.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

Mr Garratt died four days before his 26th birthday. He lived at home with his parents, June and Frank, and had a long-term girlfriend, Emma Thilthorpe.

He was riding to work in London at the time of the crash. Before he got his bike he used the train.

Mr Garratt, a fully-qualified electrician, was working towards taking over from his father as managing director of an electronics business. He had a younger brother, Lee.

His family said he was a “wonderful person” who would go out of his way to help people.