A soldier has been banned from driving after losing control of his car and killing a cyclist.

Robert Pitkin, 23, admitted careless driving and driving without insurance, at court yesterday.

Colchester magistrates heard the Meanee Barracks-based paratrooper was on the wrong side of the road.

He was in collision with 47-year-old West Mersea firefighter Gordon Smith.

Mr Smith, of Farriers Chase, died at the scene. An inquest in May recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The court was told Pitkin's Peugeot 205 GTI car clipped the kerb in Maldon Road, Great Wigborough, in September.

Mitigating, Roger Brice, said: "This forced the vehicle to its off-side. Coming the other way was the cyclist. There was an unfortunate but not high speed collision which resulted in the death of the poor man."

Mr Brice said Pitkin sincerely regrets the "tragic and unfortunate" accident.

For the careless driving charge, Pitkin was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a £500 fine.

For having no insurance, he was ordered to pay a further £300 as well as £45 costs

Published Wednesday July 21, 2004

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