A SENIOR Hampshire banker has been cleared of causing the death by careless driving of a motorcyclist who his Land Rover Discovery was in collision with in a country lane.

Derek Shakespeare, 52, who is co-head of UK and Ireland mergers and acquisitions at Barclays bank, was cleared by a jury following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

He had been accused of causing the death by careless driving of 32-year-old Peter Lowe.

Daniel Sawyer, prosecuting, told the jury that the crash happened as Mr Lowe, from Porton, was riding his red Yamaha motorcycle along the A343 from Nether Wallop when Mr Shakespeare pulled out at the junction with the B3058 and collided with him.

Daily Echo:

The prosecutor said Mr Shakespeare told police that he had stopped at the dotted line and waited for a car coming from the same direction as Mr Lowe.

He said that Mr Shakespeare, of Walhampton, in the New Forest, told officers that “once it had passed he looked again, it was clear, he pulled out and then he heard a bang”.

Daily Echo:

Mr Lowe was described by his family in a statement released after his death as a “kind and caring man who loved his family and pets and riding his bike”.

They said: “He was always full of fun and life, compassionate and caring.”