A MAN who was involved in a motorcycle accident in which his pillion passenger died has pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Jeffrey Dowson, 23, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, was riding a Yamaha motorbike in Kingsley Avenue in the town when he crashed into a wall and hit a parked vehicle.

His passenger Martin Mul-cahy, 22, a forklift truck driver, of Ilkley Grove, Hartlepool, died in the crash on June 12 last year.

Yesterday, Mr Dowson appeared at Teesside Crown Court where he was given conditional bail by Judge John Walford.

The judge said Mr Dowson, who lost a leg as a result of the crash, would have his case adjourned and return for trial at a date yet to be fixed.