A man accused of killing a cyclist while over the drug-drive limit is to stand trial.

Danny Gibson, from Sittingbourne, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court where he denied several offences in relation to the death of 71-year-old David Prentice.

The pensioner died following the collision with a Renault Scenic near his home in The Street, Wormshill, at around 5pm on October 18, 2022.

Gibson, 37, of Oast Court, was charged but the court was told during his plea and trial preparation hearing on August 5 that he refutes being in the car at the time.

He pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving when over the specified limit for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol - the breakdown product of cannabis, causing death by driving while unlicensed, causing death by driving while uninsured and aggravated vehicle taking.

An inquest into Mr Prentice's death held in November 2022 was told he suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his head, torso and right leg.

Gibson was released on bail until his trial starts on April 7 next year.

Tributes poured in for Mr Prentice, a Cambridge-educated former farmer.

A group of villagers had spent hours searching for him before he was found in a nearby field at about 8pm.

One man who was a friend and neighbour said at the time: “It’s a tragedy. David was a creature of absolute habit and went for bike rides in the morning and late afternoon.

“He did it religiously every day of the year. So when he didn’t come home we were concerned and myself and some others went out to try and find him.”

Mr Prentice had lived in Wormshill almost all his life and had worked on Yew Tree Farm which had been owned by his parents.