Builder admits his A9 blunder caused talented chef's death

Ryan Young, 38, died after being knocked off his motorbike by Michael Bloice, as the chef travelled to work at about 7:30am on 24 April.

Yesterday, Bloice, 43, admitted having caused Mr Young's death by driving directly into the path of his motorcycle on the A9 near his Perthshire home.

Mr Young had been shortlisted for the "Rising Chef of the Year" award at the 2010 Scottish Hotel Awards and his restaurant went on to win the Scottish City Restaurant of the Year award.

He had been heading to the Opus One restaurant in Perth, where he was head chef, to prepare breakfasts when Bloice cut across his motorbike at the trunk road's junction with a road to Luncarty.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Bloice had a clear view for about 350 metres and inexplicably failed to see Mr Young when pulling out to turn right.

Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson said the accident occurred where the A9 is joined by a minor road leading to and from Luncarty.

"Mr Bloice, for whatever reason, did not observe Mr Young approaching from his right-hand side and pulled out. There was no possibility of either party avoiding the collision.

"Mr Young was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered severe injuries.

"The pick-up driven by Mr Bloice and the motorcycle were both badly damaged.

"The accused did not keep a good enough lookout to his right before commencing the manoeuvre."

Mr Richardson said witnesses saw Mr Young, from Bankfoot, Perthshire, speeding prior to the accident, but he was driving his Yamaha bike at about 50mph when he was struck.

Counsel Malcolm McGregor, for Bloice, said he would give his plea in mitigation after the preparation of reports and sentence was deferred until next month.

Outside court, the victim's mother, Eilish Ritchie, said: "A lot of people knew Ryan because he was a vary talented chef and he had won several awards for the place he was working. He was always interested in cooking and motorbikes.

"His widow Lesley and the rest of the family are just trying to come to terms with it."

A spokesman for the hotel awards, Scott Thornton, said: "Opus One won the Scottish City Restaurant of the Year, which is one of the main awards. That is very much down to the head chef. I suppose it will be his memorial now. He was a very, very talented chef."