The trial of a man accused of killing a grandfather while having cocaine in his system has begun.

Dean Thomas had been at the wheel of his Hyndai i30 when it crashed into cyclist David Cox on a roundabout in Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

The 71-year-old suffered serious head injuries on the morning of January 28 and died 12 days later at London’s King’s College Hospital.

Dashcam footage from eyewitness Henry Mountier showed the jury the blue vehicle knocking the grandfather-of-six off a silver electric bike and onto the floor.

Prosecuting barrister Catherine Donnelly claimed Thomas, represented by defence barrister John Barker, “entered the roundabout without stopping.”

She said: “Mr Cox at the time of his death was 71 years of age.

“Mr Cox was riding a silver electric cycle - he was in the process of leaving the second exit when he was struck in the left hand side by a blue Hyndai i30.

“That vehicle was being driven by Mr Thomas.

“He entered the roundabout without stopping, it was estimated he was travelling at 21 mph.”

She added investigations by PCs Chapelhow and Youngs ruled sunlight made visibility “uncomfortable” but was not the cause of the crash.

The roads were in good repair, traffic was light, and the weather was fair, Ms Donnelly argued.

She went on to explain how Mr Barker’s defence will hinge on Thomas being dazzled by sunlight and manufacturing issues with the car’s A-frame.

“It appears Mr Thomas didn’t use his visor, he didn’t make appropriate adjustments in his car.

“There are a combination of factors that made his driving dangerous.”

Thomas, 44, of Central Parade in Herne Bay was arrested at the scene and taken to a nearby police station.

He said in police interview the sun hindered visibility and the road appeared clear.

He admitted taking a small amount of cocaine three days before the accident, according to Ms Donnelly.

“There are a combination of factors that made his driving dangerous.." prosecutor Catherine Donnelly

Toxicology reports showed 289 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per litre of blood when the legal limit is 50, judge Catherine Brown heard.

Benzoylecgonine is a by-product of cocaine once metabolised by the body.

Toxicology also showed traces of morphine below the legal limit.

The court heard investigating officer PC Young believed tiredness was an attributing factor towards the accident, and Thomas was travelling an estimated 21mph on the 40mph stretch.

Judge Brown told the jury Thomas, who arrived in court using a walking stick because of back pain, suffers “cognition issues” and “can find it hard understanding.”

The trial continues.