A FORMER senior academic at Southampton Uni-versity and Winchester College has been acquitted of motoring charges arising from the death of a pensioner.

Sir Bryan Thwaites was cleared of careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report it to police.

The prosecution alleged Sir Bryan's Rover 827 struck Ian McKee, 83, on a pelican crossing at North Walls, Winchester.

Witnesses saw a car stop and then speed away, leaving Mr McKee seriously injured.

Mr McKee, of Park Avenue, died some two months later.

At Basingstoke Magistrates' Court yesterday, Sir Bryan, who had denied all three charges, was cleared of the allegations.

Mike Hewitt, chairman of the bench, said there was no evidence of careless driving. Sir Bryan's legal costs were to be paid from central funds.

Now Sir Bryan, 76, a former professor of maths at the university and former chairman of Wessex Regional Health Authority, is considering suing the police for wrongful arrest.

The court heard that four days after the incident police mistakenly arrested him at his home for causing death by dangerous driving, when Mr McKee was still alive.

After the case he said: "I shall be considering whether to take further action regarding wrongful arrest for such a serious allegation.

"It was a huge shock to be arrested. I cannot understand how the police made such an error."

"I feel enormous sympathy for the McKee family," said Sir Bryan, formerly of Sleepers Hill, Winchester, now living in Piccadilly, London.

During the trial, Kenneth Pain, prosecuting, had alleged that Sir Bryan was driving the vehicle that struck Mr McKee.

"Mr McKee must have been on the crossing for some time and if not seen or insufficient avoiding action taken, then that amounts to careless driving," he said.

Witness Martin Williams said he was in nearby Middle Brook Street and heard a car skidding and a thud. He saw a stationary Rover car speed away.

No witnesses saw the actual collision, the court heard.

Sir Bryan told the court: "He Mr McKee was running on the pavement and continued to run into the road on the crossing."

He said he was travelling at about 35 mph and braked hard and missed him by about four feet.

He had not stopped because he did not think he had struck him. "I would most certainly have stopped in accordance with the sort of career I have had," he said.

After the case, Sgt Tim Ashman, of Winchester police, said: "We will not be looking for anybody else. We have done a thorough inquiry and we feel we have completed the inquiries.''