A FAMILY man has been sent to jail after making a "terrible mistake" which led to the death of an elderly motorcyclist.

Mahamud Abubaka denied causing the death of Geoffrey Steele by turning his Vauxhall Zafira into the 74-year-old's BMW R1100S motorbike in Northway in September 2014.

But a jury of five women and seven men at Oxford Crown Court unanimously found the 36-year-old guilty of causing death by careless driving, following a three-day trial in April.

Abubaka, who has been jailed for four months, claimed the motorcycle came from nowhere, but Nigel Daly, defending, admitted his client should have seen it.

He told the court today Abubaka had been on his way to pick up his step-grandson from hospital.

Mr Daly said: "This is a case where they are no winners, only losers.

"Mr Abubaka did not set off that morning to kill someone or to have an accident or commit any sort of offence.

"He set off to pick up his step-grandchild from hospital who had broken his leg."

During the trial the jury heard Abubaka, of Pound Field Close, Barton, had been waiting at the ‘give way’ sign at the entrance to Marsh Lane when a car passed in front of him.

Witnesses told how Abubaka then turned straight into the path of Mr Steele - who was wearing a high-vis jacket and helmet - causing him to be thrown from his bike.

Mr Steele was was rushed to hospital, but despite medics carrying out an operation he died 23 days later.

Mr Daly said his client, who had passed his driving test in February 2013, had made a terrible mistake and appealed for a suspended sentence.

He added: "This is a family man who has made a terrible mistake.

"He does express remorse, he is terribly sorry for the consequences of his actions and he would like to do all he can to try to alleviate the harm he has caused.

"He has worked for the same company for nearly four years, working hard, providing for his wife, providing for his family, not just in this country, but also sending money to his mother in Somalia."

Judge Zoe Smith said Mr Steele was a "much-loved father, grandfather, uncle and father in-law".

She added: "He was 74 years old, but clearly a dynamic and active person, a caring man and those close to him find his loss unbearable."

Judge Smith told Abubaka he had not looked to his right to check for ongoing traffic and Mr Steele had done nothing to lead to the crash.

Jailing Abubaka, she added: "You're a man of previous good character, references show your positive qualities and the fact you are a care family man.

"In the opinion of the court this was more than careless driving arising from momentary inattention.

"I feel I have no option but to pass a custodial sentence and I think in the circumstances it will be an immediate custodial sentence."