A POOLE pilot charged with the manslaughter of a former Royal Marine in a plane crash has appeared in court.

Scott Hoyle, 47, spoke only to confirm his personal details during a two-minute hearing before Bournemouth magistrates this morning.

Hoyle of Charborough Road, Broadstone, is alleged to have committed the offence on May 15 2011.

He was flying a vintage de Havilland Tiger Moth when it crashed into a field near Witchampton, causing fatal injuries to passenger Orlando Rogers, 26.

Hoyle was cut free from the wreckage and taken to hospital and Mr Rogers, a veteran of tours in Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, died of his injuries.

Mr Rogers, from Poole, starred in two ITV documentaries which featured him on tour as a troop commander and also during a trans-atlantic row.

Tributes poured in, describing him as a “charismatic action man” and “immensely special.”

Hoyle was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing.