A DRIVER tried to walk into the path of oncoming traffic after his U-turn on a bypass had caused the serious injury of a motorcyclist, a court heard yesterday.

Hysterical John Nicholson asked witnesses to the early morning incident on Harrogate's southern bypass to help critically injured biker James Poskitt, 21.

Prosecutor Michael Hammond told Harrogate magistrates that the 33-year-old university graduate had repeatedly said: "It's all my fault.''

He went on to spend ten days in a psychiatric ward at Harrogate District Hospital.

Solicitor Peter Tetlow entered a guilty plea on behalf of Nicholson, of Heslington Lane, York, to a careless driving charge.

He said that Nicholson had been struggling for a year before the incident in January to get over depression.

"At one stage, while still at the scene, he attempted to walk into the path of some oncoming cars,'' said Mr Tetlow. "His state of mind was clearly totally confused at that stage.''

Mr Hammond said it had been about 7.30am, on January 16, when Nicholson missed the A661 exit from the bypass in his Vauxhall Omega.

Mr Poskitt, of Knox Lane, Harrogate, was following behind when Nicholson pulled into a nearside lay-by and then swung right, into the path of the Suzuki being ridden by Mr Poskitt.

The accident happened close to Rudding Park Golf Club where Mr Poskitt, who studied at Askham Bryan College, near York, was a greenkeeper. Nicholson was fined £150 with £35 costs. His driving licence was also endorsed with six penalty points.