A man has denied being the rider of a motorcycle which crashed during a short pursuit with police, causing the death of what the prosecution say was the pillion passenger.

Lee Stevenson was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision in which a Kawasaki motorcycle crashed into a roundabout on Passsfield Way, Peterlee, in the early hours of Saturday, March 25 last year.

Police said at the time that the 27-year-old father-of-two, from Peterlee, was riding pillion on the motorcycle which failed to stop for patrol officers shortly beforehand.

The man who is alleged to have been the rider of the motorcycle, 33-year-old David Stewart, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Friday (April 19) accused of causing Mr Stevenson’s death by dangerous driving.

The Northern Echo: Floral tributes to Lee Stevenson at the scene of the fatal motorcycle collision in which he died,

When the charge was put to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Judge Jo Kidd said the position appeared to be that the defendant was saying that he was the pillion passenger and not the rider.

She said the prosecution say the rider was wearing a helmet at the time, while the pillion passenger was not.

“At the time the police attended the deceased was not wearing a helmet.”

Judge Kidd asked defence counsel, Jane Waugh: “Is it the defendant’s case that they swapped?”

Miss Waugh told the judge that the defendant has no memory of the night in question, but claims he was not the rider.

The Northern Echo:

“He has looked at the evidence and has been advised as to the strength of the evidence and my instructions are that he was not the driver or rider.”

Judge Kidd said a witness looking out from his home said the rider of the motorcycle was wearing a helmet, but the passenger was not.

A case timetable was agreed in which the prosecution evidence must be submitted by May 31 and the defence case presented to the court by June 28, with a trial listed for up to three days, starting on February 17, next year.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Judge Kidd said she would preserve the defendant 25 per cent, “credit for plea” off his sentence, should he wish to change plea in the next two weeks, but after that it would reduce.

She said he could have a fortnight to, “reflect on his position.”

In the meantime, she granted the defendant, of George Stephenson Boulevard, Stockton, bail on the same terms he has been subject to previously.