A FARMER has been jailed for eight years for causing the death of a motorcyclist in an A40 crash four years ago.

Sixty-one year-old Philip Baker had been drawing straw from a field at Walford and was towing a poorly lit and overloaded trailer with a tractor shortly after sunset in August 2022, when Dr Steven Lee crashed into the back on his bike near Ganarew.

Baker of Wonastow, Monmouth, denied causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared before a jury at Worcester Crown Court in July, but was convicted.

He was sentenced on Tuesday (September 22) and as well as a lengthy jail term was banned from driving for nine years.

The fatal collision just before 10pm saw 26-year-old medical student Dr Lee pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard that the tractor and trailer had numerous dangerous defects, including the lack of an amber beacon which should be in place to alert other road users to the potential hazard of its presence and slower speed.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) identified the lack of a beacon as the main causal factor for the collision, as it meant Dr Lee had no warning as he approached it on his motorbike at normal speed.

The jury at his trial was told that the lack of an amber warning light, verified by several eyewitnesses, resulted in the collision as Baker was travelling at a speed significantly lower than the 70mph speed limit.

The tractor and trailer were also in a poor condition and overloaded with straw bales, while the brakes on the trailer did not work and were not connected to the tractor cab.

And the hydraulic line between the two was poorly maintained and the lights cable was held on by baler twine.

Dr Steven Lee was killed at the scene
Dr Steven Lee (The Lee family)

The family of Dr Lee, who lived in Colwyn Bay, described him as “a true polymath, Steven had almost completed his degree in medicine and was so looking forward to his future.

“He had a degree in biology, a Masters in immunology, he was a pilot instructor, a piano teacher, a commissioned officer in the RAF cadets and a photographer.”

Following the sentencing, they added: “Steven’s life was lived to the absolute fullest and he achieved so much in the time he had.

”He was able to help, support and contribute to the lives of so many people and did not hesitate to do so.

“We remember him as a loving son, adored little brother, entertaining uncle, wonderful partner and a great friend. He will always be missed.

“Steven was an accomplished piano player and qualified as a piano teacher but also had a taste for adrenaline, hence his love of motorbikes.

“But two wheels weren’t quite enough so he enrolled in the Air Training Corps (ATC) at the age of 13.

“He loved flying and was, in the words of his commanding officer: “A credit to his squadron and to himself.”

The family have set up the Dr Steven Lee foundation, aimed at providing advanced motorcycle training to new riders at the drstevenleefoundation.org.uk