A thrill-seeking biker was using the streets as his “personal playground” before he hit and killed an 85-year-old pedestrian.

Lee Wilkinson, 34, was filming his own exploits on a GoPro camera when he struck much-loved grandfather John Truscott, causing his death.

Keen singer Mr Truscott, known and respected in clubs around the North-east, was crossing the road near his home on Meadowgate, Eston , when he was hit by the illegal off-road bike.

Prosecutor Aisha Wadoodi said he suffered acute bleeding around the brain after the accident on April 2 last year.

He developed respiratory failure and died in hospital 10 days later, Teesside Crown Court heard on Monday.

The active pensioner had returned from holiday in Spain with his wife of 49 years the day before the tragic accident.

Uninsured, unlicensed driver Wilkinson had the camera attached to his helmet as he drove the Honda CR250 bike, which should not have been on the road at all.

The vehicle he had owned for four years was not road-legal, had no lights, horn, speedometer or registration mark and only one tyre for road use.

Footage captured 40 minutes before the collision showed Wilkinson, his co-accused David Pears, 20, and another rider racing around Eston and Grangetown .

They pulled wheelies, overtook, undertook, mounted pavements and grassed areas, travelled on the wrong side of the road, narrowly missed cars and ran a red light while pedestrians were crossing.

Mr Truscott’s family left the courtroom before harrowing footage of the collision itself on the 30mph road was played.

It showed him being hit by the bike then Wilkinson saying: “****ing hell mate are you all right? My God.”

He then told a witness: “He stood in the middle of the road. He wouldn’t move.”

He later told police: “He should have looked before crossing.”

He claimed he was not speeding at the time and hit Mr Truscott at less than 10mph.

David Pears
David Pears

In fact he was driving an average of at least 46mph in the 100m before the collision, said experts.

If he had been travelling at 30mph, he would have been able to stop.

He said he had been riding off-road bikes unlicensed for 15 to 20 years, had entered competitions, and normally rode to the Eston Hills.

He told how he used the camera to show he and his friends were responsible drivers after a local group complained they were “reckless, inconsiderate and out of control”.

Wilkinson, of Moorgate, Eston, admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Pears, of Lythe Walk, Eston, admitted dangerous driving.

Both men had a previous conviction for driving or riding on stolen bikes.

'Your own pursuit of thrills'

Rod Hunt, defending Wilkinson, admitted he had been using the streets as a “personal playground”, but had other more mature sides to him.

He told how Wilkinson did not run away but stayed at the scene, tried to help Mr Truscott and got him a drink of water.

“That was a humane thing to do, given his inhumane manner of driving,” said Mr Hunt.

Wilkinson kept the GoPro camera safe for police, providing the evidence against him.

Mr Hunt said Wilkinson had been hospitalised in a violent upbringing and left homeless at 20.

Out of trouble since 2005, he was described by his partner as a hard-working electrician and an “amazing dad”.

John Nixon, defending Pears, said: “His driving was completely and utterly unacceptable. There’s no denying that.

“It’s by the grace of God that he’s not standing in the shoes of his co-accused.”

He said Pears failed to appreciate risks and consequences in his immaturity.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, told Wilkinson: “You were simply going about your own pursuit of thrills and enjoyment, as you saw it.

“You had no care for anyone else.

“Mr Truscott was crossing a short road. He was there to be seen. You singularly failed to see him.

“On my view of the footage you took no steps whatsoever to try and avoid him.

“You were driving at the time an illegal vehicle. It shows your complete disregard for safety.”

He said no sentence could compensate Mr Truscott’s devoted family for their pain and loss.

He jailed Wilkinson for four years and banned him from driving for six years.

Pears was locked up for eight months and banned from driving for 28 months.