William Beckett, 81, has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving after a collision that led to the death of motorcyclist Nick Gilroy. The crash took place in Hampshire on 20 May 2023, when Beckett emerged from a side road and entered Gilroy’s path.

Gilroy was 64. He suffered injuries in the collision and died several weeks later. A travel writer from York, he was also an experienced motorcyclist who had toured all 50 US states. He had previously served in the RAF.

The case was heard at York Crown Court. Beckett received a prison sentence suspended for 18 months. The court also imposed six months of home curfew monitoring, 180 hours of unpaid work and a three-year driving disqualification.

Beckett denied causing death by dangerous driving and argued that cyclists had restricted his view. Stephanie Palmer, a detective constable with the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said Gilroy had been riding lawfully and within the speed limit. She urged drivers to spend more time checking junctions and side-road exits, where motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable if they are not seen in time.