A man charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist in Pembroke by careless driving pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in court this week.

Fifty-nine-year-old John William Harries, of Cricket Grove, Hundleton, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, charged with causing the death of Peter Mackay by driving his Mitsubishi Shogun, on the B4319 road, without due care and attention.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that this very tragic accident occurred on July 2, of last year, at a junction between, Pembroke and Maidenwells, shortly after 8 pm.

“The drive was clear, even though it was night it was still light at that time of the year,” he explained.

“Mr. Harries had been working on his partner’s farm in Monkton during the day, but went to St. Govan’s Inn later to pick up a meal voucher.

“An eye witnesses said that Mr. Harries very clearly came to a halt at a T Junction on the way back, but clearly didn’t see a motorbike coming the other way.

“There is no suggestion that the defendant had been drinking or was driving at an excessive speed,” said Mr. Pritchard-Jones.

The court heard that an accident reconstruction assessed that Mr. Mackay’s motorbike was being driven at about 50 mph at the time of the collision.

“Mr. Harries made a full statement at the time and has been consistent with his explanation in that he can’t give one,” Mr. Pritchard-Jones continued.

“He said that he looked left and right at the junction, but simply didn’t see the bike coming. It was an error on his part that this tragic accident occurred,” he added.

Magistrates heard how the son and daughter of Mr. Mackay, an urgent care worker for Wales Ambulance Service, explained that their mum had lost her ‘life companion’ in their personal statements, and that her quality of life had reduced.

“She finds it difficult if not impossible to discuss the death of her husband,” Mr. Pritchard-Jones read from Mr. Mackay’s son’s statement.

Defence solicitor Richard Ollier told the court that Mr. Harries had expressed his deep regret at the death of Mr. Mackay, who was a close friend.

Mr. Harries, a building inspector for Pembrokeshire County Council for 40 years, had taken early retirement, the court heard, due to the accident having a devastating effect on him.

“It has been a heavy burden to carry knowing that he had caused the death of a close family friend,” Mr. Ollier told the court.

“For reasons he cannot explain, he simply didn’t see Mr. Mackay approaching on his bike.

“It’s a tragic case, with the extent of the driver error far outweighed by the consequences that occurred,” added Mr. Ollier.

Magistrates, who offered their condolences to the family of the deceased, gave Mr. Harries an 18-month community order for the offence, with a requirement of 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £100 and a £60 victim surcharge.