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Driver who killed biker in head-on crash jailed

Spindrift A woman with long, dark hair with blonde streaks at the front is wearing large, square sunglasses. She has a dark cardigan on over a white T-shirt.Spindrift
Leanne Adams was jailed for four years at the High Court in Glasgow

A woman who killed a biker in a head-on crash in East Ayrshire has been jailed for four years.

Leanne Adams, 31, of Ayr, overtook another car at a blind bend before travelling at speed in her Vauxhall Insignia on the A719 between Crossroads and Galston.

She hit Robert Lynch, 59, who was thrown from his Harley Davidson Fat Boy into a field and died as a result of the crash on 17 June 2023.

Adams, who had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow.

Lord Mulholland told her that he had read emotional impact statements from relatives of Lynch with one describing the "relentless torture" following the tragic loss.

"You have caused untold grief to his family," he said.

"I pay tribute to them for the dignity they have shown in such circumstances."

Lynch and his friend Malcolm Ashby had been travelling to a motorbike show when the crash happened.

The court heard that Adams was returning to her hometown of Ayr when she overtook another car on what was described as a "blind bend".

Spindrift A man with a bald head and glasses in a leather jacket stands next to a large motorbikeSpindrift
Robert Lynch died in the crash on the A719 in East Ayrshire

Prosecutor John Coogan told the court: "The witness spoke of her 'heart being in her mouth'.

"She was of the view that the driver of the Insignia would not have been able to see if anything was coming in the other direction."

Adams eventually lost control of the car and ended up on the wrong side of the road directly in the path of the motorbike.

Ashby - who was riding his Ducati bike - braked heavily and threw himself into a hedge to avoid also being hit.

Desperate attempts were made to try and save Lynch, but he died having suffered multiple injuries.

'Extremely remorseful'

Ashby had leg, back and neck pain and went on to suffer flashbacks from the trauma.

Adams' car also ended up in a field - she admitted to police she had been driving.

Laura Anne Radcliffe, defending, said: "The involvement in this has haunted her every day.

"She is extremely remorseful. She has also never driven since this incident."

Lord Mulholland told Adams that, going by the sentencing guidelines for such an offence, the circumstances in her case merited a jail term of between four and seven years.

She was also banned from the road for 10 years.