A man has appeared in court accused of killing a pensioner by driving a motorcycle dangerously — and while unlicensed and uninsured — following a collision which also left her grandchild badly hurt.
Kieran Yorke, 22, faces a total of four charges arising out of a fatal collision on Ennerdale Road in Cleator Moor.
Gillian Livingstone, 76, of Cleator Moor, and her grandchild were struck by a motorbike at around 4.25pm on Tuesday.
Ms Livingstone died at the scene of the collision.
Her grandchild suffered a serious head injury and was said this morning to remain in hospital in a stable condition.
Yorke appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today. He faces four separate charges.
One alleges that he caused the death of Ms Livingstone by driving a white 2018 Husqvarna 701 Enduro motorcycle dangerously on Ennerdale Road on May 26.
A second charge alleges that Yorke caused serious injury to her grandchild by driving the motorcycle dangerously.
Yorke faces two further charges. These allege that he caused Ms Livingstone’s death both by driving the same bike while uninsured; and also otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to drive a vehicle of that class.
During the court hearing, Yorke spoke from the court dock to confirm his name, date of birth and address as Woodend, Egremont.
No pleas were entered to the four charges.
The allegation of causing death by dangerous driving is classed as indictable only which means it is so serious that it can only be dealt with at a crown court.
During a short outline, prosecutor George Shelley spoke of very sad, tragic circumstances.
Yorke — said to run his own business and have a family with four children — is next due to appear at Carlisle Crown Court, for a plea and trial preparation hearing, on June 26 this year.
After hearing submissions from the prosecutor and also defence solicitor Duncan Campbell, district judge Philip Holden granted the defendant bail.
A number of strict conditions have been attached to that bail, including one that he must live and sleep at an alternative address in West Cumbria to that which he provided in court.
Yorke is prohibited from having any contact with any prosecution witnesses in the case, and also with two other individuals arrested as part of the police investigation.
Separate conditions prohibit Yorke from driving any motor vehicle on a public road; and from entering a specified geographical area of West Cumbria — including Cleator Moor — which is defined on a detailed map agreed by all parties in the case. In addition he must observe a night time curfew.
Both the geographical exclusion and curfew conditions will be electronically monitored.
Two other men — aged 22 and 23 — who were also arrested after the incident have been bailed pending further enquiries.
