Man cleared of dangerous driving after death of biker Elliot Beddow in Brierley Hill

It took the Wolverhampton Crown Court jury just 47 minutes today to unanimously acquit civil engineer Dylan Dudgon after a trial.

The 42-year-old, who was at the wheel of a 2.8-litre Audi A4 Quattro estate, insisted: "We were independently speeding. It was not a race."

CCTV analysis showed the 42-year-old was travelling at 68mph in a 30 limit while his friend, pub manager Elliot Beddow was going even quicker at 78 mph on a Harley Davidson.

They were filmed six tenths of a second and around 60 feet apart moments after the bike had overtaken the car approaching a corner where the 20-year-old rider lost control and was killed when the machine slid into a set of railings in Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill shortly after 2am on September 3 2016.

The defendant said while giving evidence: "The first I was aware of the bike overtaking me was the sound of the exhaust. Then he was adjacent to the driver’s door. It shocked me because of the noise. I shuddered. I was driving too fast in excess of the speed limit.

"The bike has gone past me travelling just to the right of the line in the centre of the road. Then his back wheel went from underneath him. I slowed down and the bike’s gone down. It spun and there were sparks flaying everywhere."

Dudgon stopped at the scene to let three passengers get out to offer assistance while he parked his car round a corner, the court was told.

He continued: "I ran straight up to Elliot. He was on the pavement. Other people were there. I held his hand and tried to speak to him but got no response. I knelt with him for a short amount of time until the paramedics came. They asked for a coat and I ran to the car to get one and put it over Elliot.

"Police were arriving. I lit a cigarette and was told to put it out. I went over to Elliot, wished him bon voyage. I was aware he had passed away."

Dudgon and his friends then ordered a taxi and left the scene without him notifying police that he had been the driver of the car which was immediately behind the bike when it crashed.

Shock

He explained: “I had just witnessed the worst thing I had ever seen in my life. I was in shock and none of the police asked anything of me until one told me to clear off.”

He agreed when Judge Michael Challinor suggested: "You were the best person to tell what had happened." The defendant had admitted to police when they interviewed him several days after the crash: "I know, with hindsight, I should have stayed there."

Dudgon, from Victoria Road, Brierley Hill, who had previous conviction for a drug offence, was seen throwing a sock into a hedge before leaving. It was found to contain digital scales, cocaine and ecstasy. He admitted possession of the drugs and was fined a total of £500 with £500 costs.