An inexperienced Wolverhampton motorcyclist was killed in a horror crash after his judgement was impaired by the use of heroin, an inquest has heard.

David Roberts died from multiple injuries after his AJS 125cc bike clipped the back of a car before smashing into the front of an oncoming lorry in South Staffordshire.

The 27-year-old, of Winchester Road in Fordhouses, had only been riding for around 18 months and “lacked confidence”, police told an inquest at Cannock Coroners Court yesterday.

Motorist Douglas Martin said he was driving his Nissan Torano on Stafford Drive, Four Ashes, around 300 metres east of its junction with the A449, just after 8am on July 15 last year.

Mr Martin, of Wood Avenue, Coven, said a BMW ahead slowed to allow traffic on the opposite carriageway through as there was a Vauxhall Corsa parked partly on the pavement on his side and he followed suit.

He said: “I had been stationary for a second or two when I felt an impact on the rear of the car.

“A 7.5-ton lorry had stopped opposite. I got out and saw the motorcyclist lying in the road next to his bike.”

Steven Evans, of Longford Road, Cannock, who was driving the lorry towards the A449, said he had not seen Mr Roberts until a split second before the impact. He said: “The oncoming traffic had stopped for me.

“I’m not sure if I hit him or he hit me. There was a blinding blue flash in front of my windscreen, then an almighty crunch.”

Pc Simon Marshall, from the crash investigation unit based in Stafford, said damage to the bike did not suggest Mr Roberts was travelling at high speed.

South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh was told Mr Roberts had previously come off his bike.

Toxicology reports showed that he had a “significant” amount of heroin in his system.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Haigh added: “The drugs in his system are likely to have affected his driving ability.”

A statement released by the family said: “We would like to thank everyone who attended to David in his hour of need.

“We are also grateful for the support of friends and family and the £2,000 in donations already forwarded to the County Air Ambulance.”