A DRIVER who was this week cleared of causing the death of a motorcyclist in Powys has admitted drug driving and having no insurance.

The judge described David Pugh's actions as "reckless driving and an accident waiting to happen” as the defendant returned to court days after being found not guilty of causing the death of Shropshire biker Stephen Craig Elsdon between Llanidloes and Llandinam last year.

Pugh, aged 32, and of Victoria Avenue, Llanidloes, today (Thursday, November 9) admitted driving a BMW 330i with cocaine in his system and having no third-party insurance when the crash happened on the A470 at Dolwen on August 6, 2022.

At Mold Crown Court, Pugh admitted he had 525 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a compound of cocaine – in his system at the time of the incident in which motorcyclist Stephen Craig Elsdon, from Shrewsbury, died.

Pugh was cleared by a jury this week of causing the death of 46-year-old Mr Elsdon by dangerous driving after a trial heard that the motorcyclist went into the back of the BMW which had braked hard after it came across a van turning left.

OTHER NEWS:

His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands told Pugh that he faces a sentence that is a “world of difference” from what he could have received had he been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

“Your driving was unbelievably dangerous but of course I can’t factor in the death of the motorcyclist now,” the judge said.

“If I could you’d probably face 12 years. The sentence now is nothing like that. But this remains a serious matter.”

Pugh was told to prepare for a prison term before he was granted conditional bail to attend an appointment with the probation service for his pre-sentence report and return to court to hear his sentence at Mold Crown Court on December 13.