A MAN has been jailed for causing the death of his best friend in a motorcycle accident.

Colin Stewart, 41, was riding a trials bike, which had never been used on the road, when he swerved to avoid a Vauxhall Corsa, which had been involved in a collision moments earlier.

Teesside Crown Court was told that when Stewart was driving around a bend, he encountered an emergency situation in front of him and, having little time to brake, dropped his bike, turning it sideways towards the car.

As a result, Stewart's pillion passenger Paul Cooper, 39, hit his head against the Corsa and sustained fatal injuries.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Stewart had been drinking heavily the night before and tested as having 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Stewart, of Station Road, Darlington, had been riding the Triumph bike on the B6279 Staindrop Road, in the town, on September 5 last year, when the accident happened.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, said Stewart was an experienced motorcyclist who knew the road well.

He had been riding at 60mph along a road with a 60mph limit. However, police tests showed later that in order to take a bend safely at the scene of the accident, his speed should have been closer to 50mph.

Stewart pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving when over the prescribed alcohol limit and he also admitted offences of driving without insurance and without a licence.

Dan Cordey, in mitigation, said that Stewart was almost like a brother to Mr Cooper, who lived in Nickstream Lane, Cockerton, with his partner and family.

He said: "Mr Stewart will have to bear with him until the end of his days the fact that he has been responsible for the death of his best friend.

"While not seeking any sympathy, he should be given credit for the deep and profound remorse that he has shown."

Judge Michael Taylor sentenced Stewart to three and-a-half years in jail and disqualified him from driving for five years.