A Norfolk policeman has told the family of the man he killed in a car crash how 'very, very sorry' he was.

And the partner of dead motorcyclist David Jennings, described as 'an exemplary human being', said that he would have forgiven the policeman.

PC Michael Pearce, 43, was driving an unmarked silver Ford Focus when he crashed into two motorcyclists on July 25 last year.

Mr Jennings, 63, a grandfather from East Harling, near Thetford, one of the bikers, died in the accident.

Earlier this year, Mr Pearce was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court, after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving, and received a year's driving ban and 300 hours' community work.

At yesterday's inquest in Norwich, Mr Pearce and Mr Jennings's partner and two daughters came face to face.

Giving evidence, Mr Pearce was asked by Mr Jennings's daughter, Faye Feriday, 'to help the family understand' why he did not see the two motorcyclists coming in the opposite direction, as he turned right at a road junction.

Mr Pearce told the family: 'I have asked myself that question every day since the collision. Having experienced at first-hand people's grief, I know the answers that are desirable to questions.

'But I cannot account for not seeing David. I'm really very, very sorry.'

Earlier, he told the inquest that he had looked both ways when he approached the Mill Lane junction to turn right off the B1108 at Carbrooke, near Watton.

He said: 'I saw no other vehicles on the road, which I cannot account for. The first I knew about the collision was a huge bang.'

The inquest also heard evidence from PC Kevin Stark, who investigated the crash.

PC Stark said Mr Pearce would have been able to see about 0.3 miles in the other direction when he made the right turn.

He said: '[the motorcyclists]

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