A MOTORCYLCIST who careered into a family killing a grandmother drove at speeds reaching twice the limit to make a hair appointment, a court heard.Christopher Bainbridge of Lincoln Close, Ipswich, struck the Seymour family - Brian, 66 and Christine 58 and their two grandchildren, Kieran then six and Ethan two in London Road on August 18 last year.

A MOTORCYLCIST who careered into a family killing a grandmother drove at speeds reaching twice the limit to make a hair appointment, a court heard.

Christopher Bainbridge of Lincoln Close, Ipswich, struck the Seymour family - Brian, 66 and Christine 58 and their two grandchildren, Kieran then six and Ethan two in London Road on August 18 last year.

The impact of the collision was such that Mrs Seymour eventually died from her injures on September 21. Mr Seymour later had to have both legs amputated.

Bainbridge, 35, denies a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

As first revealed on The Evening Star website yesterday, Ipswich Crown Court heard how Bainbridge had left his home shortly before 4.35pm with the aim of making a 5pm hair appointment at Strand Hair Studio in Colchester. He was riding a 1000cc Honda motorbike.

Mr and Mrs Seymour and their grandchildren had been enjoying a day in Chantry Park when they began to head back to their London Road home.

Richard Christie, prosecuting, said they decided to cross London Road because the underpass was closed for maintenance work.

Mrs Seymour was carrying Ethan while Mr Seymour was holding the hand of Kieran and pulling a small bicycle in his other hand.

Mr Christie, who revealed Mr Seymour would not be giving evidence because he was too unwell, said: “The Crown alleges the defendant came up the road in a hurry. In interview he admitted the journey time can be 35 minutes to 40 minutes or can even take up to an hour.

“Even at the Shell garage at the bottom of the hill he was in a hurry. The engine was revving loudly and he pulled away so quickly from the lights he was soon out of sight. So fast was he that he caused witnesses to pass comment about him.”

Mr Christie said witnesses described him weaving in and out of traffic. He said: “He overtook one driver on the right hand side even though they were in the right hand lane. Someone else was undertaken in such a fashion they were forced to drive onto the grass verge.”

A police investigation revealed that Bainbridge had been travelling between 65 and 91mph in a 40mph zone when he had struck the Seymours. The court heard that had he been travelling at 40mph he would have stopped 34 metres before reaching the family.

Mr Christie added that the family were struck in the middle of the road and that there did not appear to have been an effort by Bainbridge to steer around them.

He said: “The Crown say it's because he was travelling at such speed he had no other option but to crash into them.”

The trial, which is expected to last for five days, continues.