A MOTORCYCLIST who caused the death of a friend in an accident on a country road is facing a possible jail sentence.

Carl Buckingham today admitted responsibility for the crash in which fellow rider Mark Chadfield was killed last year.

The accident happened on the A684 Temple Bank, between Aysgarth and Swinithwaite, North Yorkshire, on September 3.

Buckingham, 34, of Thompson Street East, Darlington, will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court in three weeks' time.

He was given bail until his next appearance, and a pre-sentence background report was ordered by Judge Peter Fox, QC.

The judge told Buckingham: "You must not think that my giving you bail is any indication of your sentence."

Married Mr Chadfield, from Darlington, was riding a Kawasaki motorbike in a convoy when the accident happened.

Buckingham was at the front of the line and is said to have panicked and braked heavily when something startled him.

His bike skidded out of control and onto the other side of the road where an Isuzu Rodeo was forced to take evasive action.

Mr Chadfield, 34, who was riding close behind Buckingham, was hit by the Isuzu, and died as a result of his injuries.

In a written basis of plea, Buckingham accepts his actions contributed to the collision as they would have distracted his friend.

The document - accepted by prosecutors - also says his riding before the accident was "at all times" careful and safe.

Defence lawyer, Dan Cordey, told the court that the momentary lapse of concentration was not a major cause of the accident.

Judge Fox adjourned the case until May 11 and ordered Buckingham to co-operate with the Probation Service for his report.

Buckingham admitted a charge of causing death by careless driving.