The distraught widow of motorbiker Nick L’Estrange shouted ‘I hate you’ at the pensioner whose careless driving caused his death on the A36 near Warminster last year.

Jacqui L’Estrange, from Purton, was at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday to see 80-year-old John Bamfield walk free after being given a six-month suspended jail sentence.

She broke down in tears in the gallery as Bamfield, from Yeovil, was led away from the dock. And she also shouted to him: “You will meet him one day and you better have something good to say to him.”

Father-of-three Mr L’Estrange, 44, died on July 28 last year after the black Suzuki motorbike he was driving crashed into Mr Bamfield’s silver Volvo on the A36 at Warminster.

The court heard Bamfield was attempting to do a U-turn on a stretch of dual carriageway and pulled out of a lay-by into the path of Mr L’Estrange and four other bikers.

Fellow biker Jamie Golding, from Swindon, broke his arm, wrist, shoulder blade, collarbone, finger, ribs and a vertebra in his back.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told the court that since the crash Mrs L’Estrange had not been able to drive and suffered from depression.

Speaking for Mrs L’Estrange, Mrs Squire said: “Nick was the only man in my life. I am completely devastated and feel my life has ended.”

Caroline Sykes, defending, said Bamfield had looked both ways before pulling out but had not spotted the motorbikes.

She said he had an impeccable driving record and was known to be a cautious driver. He was once pulled over for driving too slowly in America.”

Ms Sykes added that he had been deeply affected by the accident and also pointed out he was suffering from kidney disease and would soon be undergoing dialysis.

Having already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, Bamfield was given a six-month prison term suspended for a year, banned from driving for two years and will be electronically tagged to ensure he remains in his home from 7pm to 7am for four months.

Judge Douglas Field said: “The fact of the matter is you should have seen the motorcyclists and you didn’t.”

Banning him from the road for two years the judge said: “You are to take an extended driving test if you are foolish enough to want to drive again.”

Outside court Mrs L’Estrange read a statement. She said: “As far as I am concerned, no punishment is ever good enough for the man who killed my husband.

“I am annoyed that he has shown no direct remorse to me or Jamie Golding.

“I am very concerned that somebody who was 79 and not in good health was driving on the road in the first place.”