A POLISH lorry driver has admitted causing the death of a Redditch motorcyclist in a crash in the Cotswolds last year.

At Gloucester Crown Court, Arkadiusz Pawelkowski, aged 39, of Cherrywood road, Birmingham B9 pleaded guilty to causing the death of Timothy Bailey, aged 59, by driving an Iveco tipper truck carelessly on the A435 at Oxenton, near Cheltenham, on May 17.

Pawelkowski, who was employed by Kiely Bros. Holdings Ltd of Birmingham, was assisted by a Polish interpreter in the dock.

His barrister, Simon Worlock, said the defendant's employers had supplied references for him to the court and he had an exemplary driving history. The firm would be continuing to employ him in a non-driving capacity if he was not jailed, he said.

Julian Kesner, prosecuting, asked the court to consider a victim impact statement from Mr Bailey's son before passing sentence on Pawelkowski.

Judge William Hart agreed to adjourn for a pre-sentence report on Pawelkowski. He bailed him to return to court on March 21.

"The report will consider all sentencing options," the judge told him. "It is not possible today for me give any indication as to what the sentence will be."
He imposed an interim driving ban on Pawelkowski.

The fatal collision happened in a stretch of road known as ‘Seven Bends’ on the A435 at Oxenton between Gotherington and the Teddington Hands roundabout near Cheltenham.

Mr Bailey was pronounced dead at the scene.