A pensioner accused of killing a motorcyclist by careless driving “simply didn’t see” the rider, a court has heard.

Patricia Storey’s blue Ford Mondeo pulled into the path of Brett Appleyard’s motorbike in Ramsgate on the evening of October 6, 2017.

The 24-year-old suffered fatal injuries after slamming his Yamaha’s brakes and being flung into Storey’s vehicle, a trial at Canterbury Crown Court heard on Monday.

Storey, 67, was making a right turn from Stirling Way towards her home in Conyngham Close after buying milk at a nearby Spar.

Mr Appleyard was travelling in the opposite direction with his headlamp on when the crash happened.

“Mrs Storey exited her vehicle after hearing a bang, walked round her car to find Mr Appleby lying on the ground. Members of the public arrived, one of them ushered Mrs Storey from the scene as she was shocked and distressed,” prosecutor John Clifford said.

“Mrs Storey was visited by police officers at her home - she stated she looked down the road but didn’t see anything coming and wasn’t travelling fast.

“The reason she hadn’t seen him is because her driving fell below the requisite standard on that occasion..." — John Clifford, prosecuting

“She was then arrested and taken to the police station. At the station Mrs Storey was interviewed and said that she simply hadn’t seen Mr Appleyard on his bike.

“The reason she hadn’t seen him is because her driving fell below the requisite standard on that occasion,” the barrister added.

The court heard Mark Robinson was in his kitchen when he heard the sound of a motorcycle revving and then stopping.

He saw Storey standing outside of her car saying “help me, help me I didn’t see him”, the jury was told.

Alex Divine was stood outside his flat at the time of the incident.

He rushed to the rider’s aid and realised it was his friend, Mr Appleyard.

“He (Mr Divine) said at no time did he see an indicator on the Mondeo, only the headlights,” Mr Clifford said.

Toxicology analysis revealed there was no alcohol in Mr Appleyard’s system but evidence of cocaine use.

“It is impossible to say how the level of cocaine would have affected Mr Appleyard’s driving,” Mr Clifford added.

Storey, represented by Paul Hogben, denied causing the death of a motorcyclist at a previous hearing.

Heard by judge Rupert Lowe, the trial is expected to last about five days.

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