Motorcyclist Stefen North died after collision with car in Markfield, Leicestershire

A driver has expressed her sympathies to the mother and girlfriend of a man who died after his motorcycle hit her car.

Stacey Tollington's car was hit by Stefen North as he was riding at speeds of up to 102mph in a 40mph zone on Ashby Road, Markfield.

During an inquest into his death, held in Loughborough yesterday, Ms Tollington gave her condolences to Mr North's girlfriend, Lesley Powell, and his mother, Debbie North, but said there was nothing she could do to avoid the collision.

Speaking from the witness stand, Ms Tollington said: "I wish more than anything I wasn't there that day. I am so, so sorry for both of you.

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"I did not see him. If I had, I would not have pulled out."

The collision happened on April 23 last year.

The inquest heard that police tests showed Mr North was riding at speeds of between 98mph and 102mph just before the accident on the road, which has a 40mph limit.

Pc Michael Hinton, of the special collision investigation team, said a 62-metre skidmark showed Mr North's back wheel had locked after he braked at the excessive speed.

Pc Hinton said Mr North lost control of his 600cc Yamaha bike before it crashed into Ms Tollington's car. The collision happened after she turned right out of Main Street onto Ashby Road.

He told the court: "She was on the correct carriageway and Mr North's bike had crossed over to her side of the road at the point of impact."

The court heard that had Mr North been travelling at the speed limit of 40mph, he would have been able to stop between 30 and 50 metres before hitting Ms Tollington's car.

However, Pc Hinton said that even at the speed Mr North was travelling, he should have been in view from the junction of Main Street and Ashby Road.

The hearing was told how Mr North, of Alloway Close, Beaumont Leys, had been out for a day's motorbike ride with three friends.

In a police statement read out in court, Jamie Chaplin told how he and another friend, Kenny Winder, had repeatedly told Mr North to slow down during the ride.

Mr Chaplin said: "We both saw him flying by at stupid speeds. We told him but he would not listen. We told him and told him and told him but he did not listen."

Forensic pathologist Michael Biggs said Mr North died of a combination of a massive head trauma and severe chest injuries.

Coroner Robert Chapman recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said both the speed Mr North was travelling at and the fact Ms Tollington pulled out contributed to the collision.

He said: "Mr North was in view at the time Ms Tollington pulled out. She looked left and right and did not see anything so pulled out."

Detective Sergeant Mark Watling, the senior investigating officer dealing with the incident, said no charges had been brought against Ms Tollington.

After the hearing, Miss Powell, who was six months pregnant when Mr North died, said: "I have been robbed of a great partner and my three children have been denied a loving father.

"I have named my baby girl Stefeney after the dad she has never seen and never will see."

Mrs North said: "Our lives will never be the same again.

"Stefen was a wonderful son who would have done anything for anyone."