A 74-year-old woman from Wiltshire has escaped a prison sentence despite killing a biker.
Margaret Blake, 74, of Fovant, was driving a Volkswagen Golf as she left the Ansty Farm Shop on the A30, south of Tisbury, on 21 March 2020.
She pulled out into the path of a motorcyclist Gillian Watts, 38, from Southampton – who died at the scene.
She was riding with two friends at the time and was travelling in the middle of the group of three.
Last week, Blake – who pleaded guilty to the offence – appeared at Salisbury Crown Court for a trial. The jury found her guilty of causing death by careless driving.
She was given a two-year free-standing community order, disqualified from driving for two years with an extended re-test and fined £1,000.
Det Con Rachel Catling, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “Blake had sufficient time to see and react to the presence of the motorbike and avoid the collision, however, she failed to ensure the road was clear before turning right onto the A30, and tragically collided with the motorcyclist.
“This was a tragic loss of life – Gillian was just 38-years-old when she lost her life while out on her bike with friends.
“Her family have been devastated by her death and in a victim impact statement, her mother described how every morning she wakes up struggling to understand how the family will live with the pain of her daughter’s passing every day.
“She described Gillian as a gentle soul who gave so much to her friends and family Our thoughts are with them all at this difficult time.”
