A MOTORCYCLIST who killed another biker in a botched overtaking move in the New Forest has been banned from the roads.

David Farr, 50, was driving on the B3054 Beaulieu Road when he tried to overtake a white van.

He failed to check the road ahead and crashed head-on into a bike driven by Janek Szarzynski, 29.

Mr Szarzynski was seriously injured in the crash on February 10, 2017, and died later that evening in hospital.

Farr, of Lepe Road, Exbury, was also seriously injured and taken to Southampton General Hospital.

He has now pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Bournemouth Crown Court, and was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, disqualified from driving for five years, and ordered to pay £720 in costs, plus a victim surcharge.

Sergeant Mark Furse from Hampshire Police's serious collision investigation unit said: "Mr Farr made an assumption that the road ahead was clear due to the position of the van, and clearly failed to ensure it was safe to carry out the manoeuvre.

"Had he just taken some extra time to properly check the road ahead, he would have seen that such an overtake was incredibly dangerous.

"Tragically, his reckless decision cost Mr Szarzynski his life and has left his family devastated."

Pictures show a number of emergency service vehicles at the scene of the crash, which happened on a straight section of road.

The road was closed between the Heath roundabout at Dibden Purlieu and the Royal Oak Pub at Hill Top, near Beaulieu, following the crash, which happened at about 7am.