A MOTORCYCLIST yesterday denied leaving a fatally injured fellow rider at the scene of an accident.

Experienced rider Paul Andrew Bedding is alleged to have been involved in a high-speed race with Andrew Reed along the A19, on the afternoon of Sunday August 24 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that witnesses saw two northbound motorcycles enter the A19 at Little Thorpe, overtake a car side-by-side, then immediately leave the dual-carriageway at the Easington exit slip road.

Seconds later, Mr Reed lost control of his 750cc Suzuki, which struck a lamp-post on the looping slip road.

Witnesses describe seeing a green Kawasaki machine just ahead entering the Loaning Burn roundabout at the foot of the slip road, heading away from the scene.

The court was told Mr Bedding turned up minutes later, on his green Kawasaki, as emergency services dealt with the accident.

Mr Reed, 24, a Nissan motor worker, of Mickle Hill Road, Blackhall, County Durham, was declared dead from multiple injuries at hospital in Hartlepool.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution case is that these two bikes were racing at a dangerous speed and the nature of the danger was only too clearly shown by what happened to Mr Reed."

Mr Bedding said he and Mr Reed rode away from the house of a friend in Shotton Colliery, along Old Durham Road, towards the Loaning Burn roundabout.

But he said that just beyond the roundabout they parted company and he waved his hand, on the A19 underpass at Easington Village.

He said he was making his way home northbound on the A19 minutes later when he was intrigued to turn back after seeing a police vehicle with flashing lights heading in the opposite direction.

Mr Bedding arrived as emergency services were dealing with the collision.

In cross-examination, Mr Duffield accused Mr Bedding of being ashamed at leaving the scene after the accident.

He said: "You're not so much ashamed at the manner of your driving, but it's leaving your friend."

However, Mr Bedding said: "I wouldn't. I'm upset the lad has died, but I'm not ashamed at leaving him there, because it wasn't me."

Mr Bedding, 34, of Clarence Street, Seaham, denies dangerous driving.

The case continues