THE family of a grandfather killed in a head-on crash urged a judge not to jail the driver responsible for his death.

Herbert Thorn, who was 89, died in hospital following the collision, which took place on the A35 near Hinton on August 30 last year.

The victim, who fled Germany as a Jewish child refugee in 1933 as Hitler came to power, was the front seat passenger of a Ford Fiesta being driven by family friend Priska Eberle.

The Fiesta hit a Honda Civic driven by Lakhweer Gill, 65, who was returning from a gurdwara with wife Ranjit and best friend Satwant Bal.

Prosecuting the case at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, June 1, Jason Spellman said witnesses watched as the Honda "veered" into the opposite lane and directly into the path of the Fiesta.

Images were shown to district judge Stephen Nicols that showed the Civic "completely in the opposite carriageway".

The vehicle had no apparent defects, and the movement of the car "appeared to be as a direct result of steered input by the driver", Mr Spellman said.

Police investigators were unable to rule out that the Civic had been an "intentional manoeuvre" or the result of a distraction, it was heard.

In a statement given to officers, Ms Eberle said: "I saw the red car absolutely straight ahead and coming towards me.

"It was just there, coming straight at me."

When interviewed by officers, Gill, of Freshwater Road in Christchurch, said he was unable to explain what had happened, but was concerned that he may have blacked out in the moments before the crash.

The court heard that the defendant, who served as a justice of the peace in Southampton, has suffered with heart problems but had taken medication on the morning of the crash and did not feel unwell.

A fortnight before the collision, Gill had been due to see a consultant cardiologist for a routine check, but the appointment had been cancelled as there were no concerns for his health.

A doctor's report was sought following the accident.

The medic concluded that although it was "conceivable" that Gill suffered a form of black-out as a result of a cardiac problem, it was not very likely.

A statement written by Mr Thorn's family was read aloud to the court by Mr Spellman.

They said Mr Thorn was a "devoted husband, father and grandfather" who had celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary in the year of his death.

The statement ended: "As a family, we are united in grief at the passing of such a generous and compassionate man."

However, the family didn't wish to see Gill sent to prison, the prosecutor said.

"It was a terrible accident and they are not malicious or vindictive in their approach to this case," he said.

Gill, a former postman and shop owner who first came to Bournemouth from India in 1997, admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving on his first appearance at a court.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with an unpaid work requirement of 180 hours, costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.