A speeding motorcyclist who knocked down and killed a “larger-than-life” pensioner as he crossed the road has been jailed.

Dad-of-one Andy Gilchrist was travelling at between 59 and 66mph along the A262 from Biddenden towards Tenterden - a road with a 50mph limit - when he struck 72-year-old Chris Smith.

At Maidstone Crown Court yesterday, Judge Oliver Saxby KC recounted the tragic events that led to the death of the much-loved dad and grandad.

He told how on September 18, 2022, Gilchrist – then aged 23 – was riding his motorbike with his partner Erin Adams as pillion passenger, accompanied by a friend, Chris Atkin, on a separate bike.

At the same time, driver Lewis Bertram was travelling along the A262 with another Skoda behind him when Gilchrist overtook both vehicles. Footage shown at trial revealed he did so as a bend approached, the judge noted.

Mr Smith, who was described in court as “paranoid” about the safety of the road where he died, had written to Kent County Council just three weeks earlier to express his concerns, according to those who knew him.

On the day of the crash, he had disembarked from a bus at the Woodlands stop and waited for the vehicle to pull away, before taking a “quick look” and starting to cross the road, believing it was safe.

The court heard that Mr Smith walked at a “constant rate” and “did not stop” in the three seconds before he was struck by Gilchrist’s Honda CBR Super Blackbird 1100.

During a trial in March, Gilchrist claimed Mr Smith had paused or frozen mid-crossing, but the judge dismissed this as a fabrication, describing the statement as “lies designed to try and improve your position”.

It was not until May 2024 - 20 months after the crash - that Gilchrist, now 26 and of Merleburgh Drive in Kemsley, was charged. He initially denied causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving at a hearing in December 2024.

However, during his trial in March, following cross-examination by the prosecution, Gilchrist asked to return to court on March 19 to change his pleas to guilty on both counts.

Before sentencing, the court heard from Gilchrist’s partner Miss Adams, who was injured in the crash and spent 10 days in hospital.

She spoke of the lasting physical and emotional toll, saying she thinks about the incident “every day” and feels like a “completely different person” because of it.

Despite this, she told the court “I do not blame Andy for this,” while expressing her sorrow to the victim’s family for their loss.

A statement from Mr Bertram, who stopped at the scene, was read to the court by prosecutor Ben Irwin.

He recalled the moment he was asked by emergency services to perform CPR, saying: “It was very clear to me that the injuries were catastrophic - I wish I could erase that memory.”

He described Gilchrist’s behaviour as “reckless” and said he had a “belligerent attitude” while riding.

Moving impact statements were given by Mr Smith’s daughter, Jennie Watts, and granddaughter, Maya Leagas.

His death has left a huge hole in our lives and is something we will never get over...

Ms Watts said: “My dad was a larger-than-life, eccentric character. At the time of his death, he was a massive part of family life. We were all very close.

“His death has left a huge hole in our lives and is something we will never get over.”

She described the deep bond between her father and his grandchildren, and spoke of a previous family tragedy 18 years ago, when her brother, Paul, was killed in car crash by a dangerous driver.

Ms Leagas, who was just seven when her uncle died, said: “Unfortunately, we have been through this twice. To have to go through it all again is somewhat debilitating.”

Remembering her grandfather, she added: “He was a hilarious, talented and brilliant man. He won’t be around to meet my children or come to my wedding.”

Defence barrister Sally Mertens told the court the crash had been devastating for Gilchrist’s family too, though she emphasised: “The primary devastation is caused to the whole of the Smith family.”

She explained that Gilchrist had experienced a traumatic childhood – his father took his own life when Gilchrist was just four.

Ms Mertens acknowledged “it is not an excuse for his poor decision making”, but added that a custodial sentence would have a serious impact on his partner and child, who rely on him financially.

“The imposition of a custodial sentence will be very disruptive to his obligation of being a father,” she said.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Saxby acknowledged Gilchrist’s previous good character, clean licence, and troubled background.

He told Gilchrist: “As to remorse, I accept you have regret in the sense you wish it had not happened and recognise the pain and suffering associated with what happened.

“But real regret – remorse – requires an appreciation that you have done something wrong and an acceptance of responsibility for the consequences. This is still lacking.”

Gilchrist was sentenced to 18 months in prison for causing death by careless driving and three months, to run concurrently, for causing serious injury by careless driving. He was also disqualified from driving for 27 months.

Judge Saxby described Mr Smith as a “much-loved friend, father, grandfather and husband” and said that despite being in his early 70s, he had “much still to live for”.