The family of a biker killed instantly in a crash have been left “devastated” after the driver who caused the tragedy was spared prison.

Father-of-three Ian Blake died when his blue Suzuki was struck by Stephen Hodgkinson’s Mazda at the junction of Wretchwick Way and Peregrine Way in Bicester last September.

The 47-year-old biker was killed instantly.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Hodgkinson was given 150 hours’ unpaid work and banned from driving for a year, having earlier admitted causing death by careless driving.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, said the 27-year-old, of School View, Banbury – a former window fitter, but now unemployed – had driven to his boss’s house to collect some tools, but found he was not at home.

As he pulled away he noticed his boss’s wife’s car and decided to follow her to the house to pick up the items.

Miss Olliver said the woman had successfully driven across Wretchwick Way into Peregrine Way, but Hodgkinson did not see Mr Blake’s bike as he tried the same manoeuvre.

Peter Coombe, defending, said his client, a married father-of-three, co-operated fully with police at the scene, tested zero for alcohol, and could not have been using his mobile phone because it had no power.

Hodgkinson also had no previous convictions or speeding penalties and his car had been recently serviced and passed its MOT.

Mr Coombe said: “This is a classic example of a momentary or accidental loss of judgement that has had tragic consequences for the Blake family.”

Judge Mary Jane Mowat said: “This is the most appallingly difficult kind of case for any judge.

“I’m acutely aware of the suffering of the family of the deceased, acutely conscious of the feelings of anger, resentment and regret they may have towards the man who caused the death of their loved one.

“But, on the other hand, we have a man who really did drive no worse than many of us might on an occasion when we weren’t fully concentrating on what we were doing and we might get away with it because circumstances were different.”

She added: “This is a case of a driver who simply didn’t see the oncoming motorcycle. Prison would not do any good to anyone.”

Outside court, Mr Blake’s wife was too upset to talk, but Sgt Peter Jell said: “This case highlights that a moment of inattention by another person can have a catastrophic effect on a wife and three young children.

“Although they know he has got to live with his actions, they do hope people will pay that extra bit of attention and look out for motorcyclists.

“If you check properly before carrying out manoeuvres you can save a family going through the trauma that the Blake family is going through.”

Sgt Jell said the family were “devastated” after the sentence.

He added: “The sentencing guidelines were fully explained to them and they were expecting that kind of sentence, but it still has a huge impact.”