A DOCTOR on trial for causing death by dangerous driving said he was "absolutely not" racing a motorbike before he was involved in a fatal collision.

Anaesthetist Vincent Hamlyn was driving a BMW Z4 when he collided with Kevin Morgan from Cwmbran who was driving a Kawasaki 300.

The pair crashed on the A449 just after exiting the Coldra roundabout on 21st June 2014.

Previously, Cardiff Crown Court heard evidence from a friend of Mr Morgan, Gregory Sweeting, who was riding with Mr Morgan when the accident occurred.

Mr Sweeting accused Hamlyn of "gunning it" as the traffic lights turned green.

33-year-old Hamlyn denies this claim. He said: "I was heading up to Monmouth to meet friends for lunch.

"I was sitting at the second set of traffic lights on the Coldra roundabout and my intention was to head onto the A449. I pulled off in the usual manner, not slowly and not quickly.

"My car is noisy pulling off but I pulled off in my normal manner. I was absolutely not racing.

"I wasn't going flat out, no where near.

"At the point the road separated from the roundabout the cyclist was no longer beside me and I wasn't aware the bike was following.

"I was confident I was ahead of the bike. I didn't check my right hand mirror as my plan was to merge onto the left lane of the A449 and I was checking for traffic coming from that lane.

"I thought the bike was going to go around the roundabout as he was positioned in that manner.

"I didn't have any reason to suspect that someone would try to overtake me on the arrows.

"I was checking left and looking ahead when I felt a gentle bump at the back of the car and heard plastic crunching.

"I looked in my mirror and could see a bike sliding across the road. I pulled over and got my phone from the passenger's seat to ring the ambulance.

"I walked over to him and felt his neck for a pulse, after a minute or two a GP came over and between us we did CPR back and forth.

Hamlyn, who has a clean driving record and no previous convictions, was subsequently arrested and held in police custody until his interview.

He said: "I felt absolutely devastated, a man had died. I did my best to resuscitate him.

"To be in an environment like that [police custody] was disorientating and upsetting. I've never been in that situation before."

Hamlyn disputes evidence estimating his speed was near 68mph and said he was "surprised at the figures". He maintains he was doing no more than 55/60mph.

This was still over the 40mph speed limit for the stretch of road.

Martin Rood, a witness prior to the collision, said: "He [Hamlyn] moved off smoothly and quickly. He didn't behave in a bad manner.

"It didn't appear to be a grand prix start."

A friend of Hamlyn, Dr Lauren Banes GP, frequently travelled in his car. She told the court: "He is trustworthy and a pleasure to be around. I would trust him with my life as a patient and friend.

"I travel probably once or twice a month in Dr Hamlyn's car and he is a very safe and cautious driver.

"I was involved in an accident as a child and as a consequence I am a nervous passenger but I always felt safe in Dr Hamlyn's car."

The court heard how Hamlyn is a keen cycler. He told the court this made him more aware of cyclists and motorbikes and knew to give them a wide berth.

The trial concluded yesterday (19th May) and the jury was yet to reach a verdict as the Beacon went to press.