A YOUNG farmer whose ‘momentary lack of concentration’ while driving a JCB caused the tragic death of a motorcyclist has been given 10 months youth custody.

Harry Shaw, then 18, only raised the bucket of his vehicle’s telescopic loader for between two and three seconds as he turned off the A678 Blackburn Road to visit his grandmother’s home, Burnley Crown Court heard.

But he failed to spot experienced rider Craig Foster’s orange Kawasaki bike, travelling towards Clayton-le-Moors, leaving him little chance to avoid a devastating collision which would claim his life.

The father-of-two from Accrington, a car restorer married to wife Melanie for 15 years, with two children Corey, 18, and Lola, 10, had been on his way back from work.

Shaw, now 20, of Blackburn Road, Simonstone, admitted causing death by careless driving. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months by Judge Beverley Lunt. Prosecutors dropped a charge of death by dangerous driving after a high-level review of the case.

Peter Horgan, prosecuting, said the defendant, who had been picking up some manure with a friend, had intended to use the front wheels of the vehicle to nudge open a set of gates at Seaway Services, his family’s bottling plant.

He had been looking to turn in at a separate set of gates but found his way barred by a roller shutter.

Mr Horgan said Mr Foster’s bike had been correctly positioned in the road and he was travelling at an estimated 39 to 42mph, around the speed limit, before braking hard and skidding, prior to hitting the JCB.

The manufacturer’s instructions explicitly advised against travelling with the bucket in a raised position, which should have resulted in Shaw taking ‘extra care’ when performing the turn, he added.

Judge Lunt also heard evidence from a police investigator that the relative position of the sun, at the time of the collision, may have slightly obscured the motorcyclist’s view of the JCB.

The court heard that in July 2012 Shaw’s tractor had been involved in a collision with a car. He was not prosecuted but ordered by police to undertake a driving course. Shaw was of previous good character.

Anthony Cross QC, defending, said that a number of family friends and acquaintances had provided testimonials, describing his client as a ‘hard-working’ and ‘responsible’ young farmer.

He told the court: “No-one would ever have thought that criminal conduct would have brought him and his family to this crown court. One moment’s inattention to what he was doing that day has brought tragic consequences.”

Arguing for a suspended sentence or community order, Mr Cross said that none of the usual factors involved in such cases, such as extended poor driving, inappropriate speed or being under the influence of drink or drugs, were present.

Shaw had accepted his guilt from the earliest possible stage in the proceedings and had expressed his remorse on countless occasions, while discussing the case with police and later probation officers, the court heard.