Motorcyclist awarded £1.7 million in damages

A MOTORCYCLIST has won damages of £1.7 million after he lost part of his leg in a motorbike accident.

Graham Leesmith, 29, was riding a bike on the A246 near Leatherhead in October 2003 when he was hit by an oncoming car driven by Gordon Evans, of New Malden.

Liability for the accident was not disputed, but the case went before a judge at the High Court regarding compensation.

Mr Leesmith, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, had his leg amputated at the left knee.

He said he was aiming to establish a career in music concert lighting at the time but that was made impossible by his injuries.

He claimed that as a top freelance lighting designer, he would have earned £250,000 a year by the time he was 40.

Mr Justice Cooke ruled that Mr Leesmith should get a total of £603,424 plus interest for lost, past and future earnings.