AN EBBW Vale man caused the death of his girlfriend when she was thrown from his motorbike in a collision, a court heard yesterday.

Stephen Gilgrass, 52, of Bryn-y-Gwynt, appeared in Newport Crown Court charged with causing the death of Michelle Warren by careless driving, causing death by driving while unlicensed and causing death by driving while uninsured.

Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth Jones said the incident happened on June 3 last year when the Suzuki motorbike, ridden by Gilgrass with Ms Warren as a pillion passenger, collided with a Ford Fiesta on King Street, Brynmawr.

Ms Warren died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries.

Mr Jones said Gilgrass was overtaking several cars in a queue of traffic behind the Fiesta which was turning right into Beaufort Street.

He said: “As the Fiesta started to turn right, the motorbike decided to overtake him.

The inevitable happened. He hit the side of the car and Ms Warren, the pillion passenger, was thrown off and seems to have collided with a metal post on the side of the road.”

The court heard Gilgrass only held a provisional licence and so was not licensed to ride the powerful 1400cc.

Mr Jones said Gilgrass was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries and later told police he had clipped a car further down the queue of traffic and lost control of the bike. Gilgrass told officers he had not intended to overtake the Fiesta.

Giving evidence, Jamie Griffiths, the Fiesta driver, said there were several cars behind him in the traffic and became aware of the motorbike by the “roar” it made.

Mr Griffiths said there was a car behind him when he checked his mirror before he turned, but as he turned he glanced in his right wing mirror and saw the front wheel of the bike before it hit him.

Gilgrass denies the charges.

Proceeding.