A MOTORCYCLIST who suffered serious injuries after misjudging a corner and crashing into a car has pleaded guilty to careless driving.

Darlington Magistrates’ Court heard today (Thursday, May 23) that 60-year-old biker Ian Mafham was airlifted to hospital with several broken bones following the incident in Middleton St George in October last year.

Witness statements read out in court detailed how Mafham was following a friend on another motorbike when he rounded a bend on Station Road at about 40mph and drifted onto the wrong side of the road.

He collided head-on with an Audi and was thrown several metres from his Suzuki bike before landing on a grass verge.

Mafham, who has ridden motorbikes for 42 years, was left with broken bones in his leg, ankle, wrist and vertebrae and was hospitalised for three months.

He is still suffering the effects of the crash and needs crutches to walk.

The female driver of the Audi did not suffer serious injury in the incident.

Representing himself in court, Mafham admitted to driving without due care and attention and told magistrates he was “very sorry for what happened.”

Presiding magistrate Rajeev Devgan told Mafham, of Forest Moor Road, Darlington, that he had already paid a higher price for the incident than any punishment they could impose.

He ordered him to pay a total of £143 in fines and costs and endorsed his driving licence with five penalty points.