A delivery driver who knocked down and killed a young biker in Aberdeen has been spared jail.
Alan George had a “momentary lapse of attention” when he pulled out of a T-junction in front of Ellis Robb without doing a final check to his right.
Mr Robb tried to avoid him, but lost control of his bike and crashed into the side of the Ford Transit van on Balgownie Road.
The 20-year-old was taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Bakery worker George previously admitted causing Mr Robb’s death by driving carelessly last month, and appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday for sentencing.
The 65-year-old was disqualified for three years and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
Sheriff Annella Cowan said any fatal accident involving a young person on the roads was a “tragedy”.
“Any sentence imposed cannot undo the consequences for those affected,” she said.
“There is no sentence I can pronounce that will restore Mr Robb’s family to completion.
“There is no sentence I can pronounce that will stop Mr George from living with this for the rest of his life.
“But other drivers need to know that causing death on the road will be met with punishment.”
George, a grandfather, was doing deliveries in Aberdeen for local bakery Thains when the accident happened at 5.55am on January 27 last year.
The court heard he was leaving the city’s science and technology park when he suffered a “momentary lapse of attention” and failed to do a final check to his right.
Fiscal depute Samia Rasheed said he pulled the van out from the T-junction onto Balgownie Road despite having a restricted view due to a hedge.
Mr Robb was forced to take evasive action but lost control of his bike, causing it to fall over and skid into the side of the van – causing him fatal injuries.
Defence agent Laura Irvine said her client had pulled up at the give way lines but failed to perform a final check after seeing headlights coming along the road.
She said: “That final extra look right may have made a difference.
“That is why George accepts responsibility for the accident.
“His first thought was not of himself but to the family of Mr Robb.
“George is a man of 65 years and with that has stated to me that he has feelings that it should have been him that died that day and not Mr Robb.”
George is still employed by Thains bakery but no longer carries out deliveries. He declined to comment when leaving court.