A man has today been sentenced for causing the death of a motorcyclist in a road traffic collision in Hambleton after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.
At around 3pm on 25th of June 2022, Antony Whitaker, who was 77 at the time, parked his Volkswagen Touran in an entrance on the A588 Shard Road near to Shard Bridge. Approximately 40 minutes later, he pulled back out onto the road conducting almost a U-turn across the path of a motorcycle, ridden by 78-year-old Mark Butterworth, who had no chance to avoid a collision.
Mark Butterworth (pictured) was taken to hospital where he sadly died.
Following a comprehensive investigation, Antony Whitaker, now 78, of Richmond Road, Barnoldswick, was charged with causing death by careless driving. He appeared today (Wednesday 17th January 2024) at Preston Crown Court where he was sentenced to nine months, which was suspended for 20 months. He will also have to wear an electronic tag for 26 weeks. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and must take an extended retest.
Mark was a much-loved husband and highly respected and celebrated motorcycle racer. He retired from racing at the age of 74 years having spent most of his life racing competitively across the country including at the Isle of Man TT.
