A WOMAN has been sentenced for “robbing two children of their father” after causing a motorbiker’s death.

Jane Margaret Smiles, formerly of Hampton Row, South Milford, pleaded guilty at Selby Magistrates’ Court yesterday to causing the death of Green Hammerton biker Trevor Peacock by driving without due care and attention.

Farm worker Mr Peacock, 42, was riding on his Honda motorcycle in convoy with fellow motorcyclist Malcolm Davey on April 7 when he collided with a Saab car.

It had swerved into his path on the A162 road at Towton, between Tadcaster and Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Jeff Lill, prosecuting, said the collision happened on a straight road, in daylight and there were no defects on the road.

He said Smiles had been careless by driving on to the verge and failing to regain control.

Mr Lill said the two motorcyclists were not speeding and were on the correct side of the road.

Mr Davey, who swerved to avoid the car, said in a statement that he then found a woman standing at the scene of the collision repeating that she was sorry and that she had been feeling unwell.

Mr Peacock was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sandra Keen, mitigating, said Smiles thought she had run over something, checked in her rear view mirror, veered and lost control.

She said Smiles accepted responsibility for Mr Peacock’s death. She had been feeling unwell and was worried about possible redundancy. Mrs Keen said: “She is a mother herself. She was devastated to find out he was a father of two as she knows the impact this would have had.

“She thinks about it all the time. She endeavours to present a normal face to her child but she and her partner have had their lives turned upside down. It’s a tragedy for both families.”

Mrs Keen said Smiles, 39, had spent only one night in South Milford since the accident as she felt unable to drive round the area’s roads. She had moved in with her parents near Stockton on Tees, tearing her family apart.

Mrs Keen said: “The future is bleak for everybody... as a result of an incident which lasted ten to 15 seconds.”

Carolyn Waterfield, chairman of the magistrates, said: “No sentence can ever change the tragic circumstances. Two children have been robbed of their father and a lady robbed of her partner. You also must live for the rest of your life with the devastation you have caused. No punishment will rid you of the guilt you must shoulder.”

Smiles received a one-year community order, must complete 300 hours unpaid work and a three-year driving ban after which she must take an extended re-test. She must pay £85 court costs.

After the case, Mr Peacock’s partner of 26 years, Karen Helliwell, with whom he had a 17-year-old daughter and a son, 14, said: “He was wonderful. His hobbies were motorbikes; he loved them.”

She said he had always been a careful driver, had taught his children to be the same and was completely blameless regarding the accident.