A POPULAR motorcyclist who was involved in a fatal road crash days after his 21st birthday died as the result of an accident.

An inquest in Chelmsford on Tuesday heard that learner driver James Sackett lost control of his Aprilia 125cc bike and hit a lamppost in Victoria Road South in the town, in the early hours of September 3 last year.

Following his death, many friends and members of his family left flowers beside the road where the crash happened.

PC Steve Perrett, of the Essex Police Investigation Unit, told the inquest that the bike James, of Stapleford Close, Chelmsford, was riding when the accident happened had been maintained to a very high standard.

He said after going around the roundabout and back towards Duke Street, it fell to its side.

As the bike slid along, James became separated from it and struck a lamppost.

He was taken to Broomfield Hospital where he later died.

A post mortem examination showed the cause of death was multiple injuries due to a road traffic crash.

A blood sample was taken, but no traces of drugs or alcohol were found in James's body.

Stuart Bradley, who was driving an Audi TT at about 12.40am, said as he approached the roundabout in Parkway, he saw a headlight coming around the roundabout.

"I thought he was doing 30 to 35 mph as he was coming towards me.

"I thought I saw some sparks, but I did not see him come off the bike."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, deputy coroner Chinyere Inyama, said it was a tragic loss of life.

James was a former pupil at Westlands Primary School and Hylands School. He had celebrated his 21st birthday on August 24.

In a tribute at the time of his death, his family said he had a wide circle of friends and loved going to the cinema, but his real passion was riding and working on his motorcycle.

He worked at a motorcycle shop at the time of his death.