A DRIVER has denied causing a serious crash which left a motorbike rider in hospital for weeks.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court was told Luke Osman, of Garland Road, Parkeston, had been driving a VW Golf when it collided with a motorbike ridden by Matthew Morris.

The incident happened in Main Road, Margaretting, in April last year.

Osman, 34, denies causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Rebecca Debenham, prosecuting, told the court Mr Morris sustained a number of injuries in the crash and was in hospital for several weeks.

The prosecution alleges Osman was performing a u-turn on the road when the incident happened.

Frank O’Toole, on behalf of Osman, said the defence disputes this.

Mr O’Toole told the court Osman says he was emerging from a side road when the incident happened and that the road was clear.

Osman was informed by the legal advisor that when the trial proceeds later this year, magistrates will have the power to commit him to the Crown Court for sentence, should they see fit.

The trial will proceed at Colchester Magistrates’ Court in March.