A driver from Great Missenden, who was being sued after a motorcyclist was left seriously brain-damaged following a horror crash, will not have to pay out.

Nicholas Howard, of Aylesbury Road, was being sued by Graham Barnes, of Uxbridge Road, Slough, after Mr Barnes’ motorcycle was involved in an accident with Mr Howard’s Audi TT Quattro on the A40 at Aston Hill in June 2013.

Mr Barnes will not receive a single penny in compensation after a top judge ruled Mr Howard blameless.

Judge Karen Walden-Smith said the consequences of the crash had been “catastrophic” for the “very experienced motorcyclist”.

He suffered a severe brain injury resulting in problems including memory loss and paranoia.

She said Mr Howard had also been “visibly affected by the incident”.

Lawyers for Mr Barnes earlier agreed there was “little doubt” he was exceeding the speed limit before the crash.

But they argued that primary responsibility for the accident fell on Mr Howard.

Mr Howard's lawyers insisted that the “sole cause of the accident” was Mr Barnes’ “negligent riding”.

Giving her ruling today, Judge Walden-Smith said: “Sadly for Graham Barnes, this incident was something that was totally within his control.

“He was, in my judgment, a considerable distance away when the Audi entered the junction, and he had a clear view.

“He was riding his bike considerably over the speed limit and was planning to overtake on hatched lines and at a junction.

“In my judgment he was anxious not to be held up further.

“He made a conscious decision to overtake and he was travelling at speed towards the junction in order to get on.

“Mr Howard did not in any way act negligently.”

She added that she appreciated the “devastating impact” the accident had had on Mr Barnes and his family.