A motorist who failed to ensure a boat trailer was properly attached to his car resulting in a motorcyclist who was taking part in a charity bike ride suffering “catastrophic injuries” has been fined £1,000 for careless driving.

East Anglian Daily Times: Police closed the A120 after the detached trailer collided with a motorcyclist. Picture: CONTRIBUTEDPolice closed the A120 after the detached trailer collided with a motorcyclist. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)

Timothy Slaven and his wife Sue, of Sudbury, were taking part in the annual Essex Air Ambulance motorcycle run from Ford Dunton to Harwich when a trailer became detached from a grey Mazda driven by Simon Garner and struck Mr Slaven’s Ducati bike, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

In view of his wife, who was travelling a short distance behind her husband on the A120 in Harwich, Mr Slaven was sent “tumbling through the air” before landing on the kerb, said Richard Potts, prosecuting.

A witness to the accident with training in emergency first aid rushed over and a doctor and an off-duty nurse also assisted Mr Slaven until paramedics arrived at the scene.

Mr Slaven, who had suffered a depressed skull fracture as well as two fractured wrists and fractures to his spine, ribs and foot, was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s hospital by Essex Air Ambulance, which ironically was the charity he had been helping to raise money for that day, said Mr Potts.

East Anglian Daily Times: Annual Motorcycle run from Ford Dunton to Harwich.¸ Essex Air Ambulance fundraiser of the year,Annual Motorcycle run from Ford Dunton to Harwich.¸ Essex Air Ambulance fundraiser of the year, (Image: Archant)

He said Garner had failed to apply the necessary standards of care and attention when he hitched the trailer on that day.

Garner, 45, of Heath Road, Bradfield, Manningtree, admitted careless driving in September 2016 and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Sentencing him Judge John Devaux said in the circumstances there was no need for a driving ban, but did issue six penalty points.

Judge Devaux described the injuries suffered by Mr Slaven as “catastrophic”.

In a victim impact statement read to the court Mr Slaven, who is in his 60s, described the devastating affect the accident had on his health and his life in general and said he could not forgive Garner for what he felt was a “completely avoidable” accident.

Following the sentencing hearing Mrs Slaven thanked all the people who assisted her husband at the scene of the accident.

Steven Dyble, for Garner, said his client, who has no previous convictions, felt genuine remorse for what had happened.

He said Garner had driven the trailer without incident many times before and accepted that on the day in question he had failed to properly secure the link between the hitch and the ball joint.