CHARITY worker John Eveleigh was fined £1,500 after the death of a motor-cyclist in a crash caused by a "lapse of concentration".

Eveleigh, 67, of Church Lane, Portesham, was also banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £35 costs after admitting driving without due care and attention.

He faced Blandford magistrates after driving into the path of motorcyclist Michael Ruffell on a junction of the A37 at Stratton, near Dorchester - the first of two death crashes in two days on the same section of road.

Magistrates heard how Mr Ruffell, 59, of Monmouth Road, Dorchester, died after Eveleigh suffered a "momentary lapse of concentration" on June 1, 2002.

John Upton, representing Eveleigh, said the pensioner wanted to express his profound condolences to the Ruffell family.

He said that if Eveleigh "could do anything to change the events he would" and that the Portesham man's life had been profoundly affected by the crash.

Mr Upton added: "He accepts unreservedly that the consequences of his momentary lapse were quite appalling."

Eveleigh, who is co-chairman of West Dorset Mental Health Forum and director of Abilities disabled training group, had a clean driving record for 50 years before the crash.

The court heard how Eveleigh had been turning right towards Dorchester coming out of the road leading from Stratton - which involved crossing the Yeovil-bound carriageway.

He drove into the path of a 600cc Yamaha motorcycle ridden by Mr Ruffell, who was described as a very keen and responsible rider.

Following Mr Ruffell on another motorcycle had been his son-in-law Christopher Lacey who witnessed the fatal accident. The court was told that there had been a "good number" of traffic cones at the scene.

Mr Upton said: "It can't have been an easy junction." The death came the day before Nick Durden, 20, from Cattistock, crashed on the same section of road.

Magistrate Jeremy Brett said: "We do find there was a high degree of carelessness on your part.

"The consequences of that carelessness were very severe indeed, in fact they could hardly have been worse."