Alan Taylor,36, crossed onto the wrong side of the road at a sharp bend near Inverary, Argyll, in September 2013.

His motorbike smashed into a Honda being ridden by William Murray, who died days later from his injuries.

On Wednesday, at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Brodie imposed 300 hours community service on Taylor.

The judge decided to impose the community payback order on Taylor because of the circumstances surrounding the offences.

He also said he accepted submissions made by defence QC Ian Duguid that the case could be disposed of with by imposing a non custodial term.

Lord Brodie said the smash up took place at a known accident blackspot and that the available evidence showed that Taylor didn't deliberately drive on the wrong side of the road.

The court also heard that Taylor tried to avoid striking Mr Murray but was unsuccessful.

The judge said this meant he was able to not impose a jail sentence on Taylor, who has previous convictions for speeding and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

Speaking about the collision, Lord Brodie said: "Your careless driving had the result of taking away a life. As Mr Duguid who appeared on your behalf immediately recognised, it also has caused inestimable damage to the lives of others, particularly those of his partner and his two daughters. "No sentence imposed can undo that damage."

Taylor, of Erskine, Renfrewshire, was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

However, jury at the High Court in Glasgow last month convicted Taylor of a reduced charge of causing death by careless driving following a trial.

Sentence had been deferred to the High Court in Edinburgh so the court could obtain reports about Taylor's character.

Taylor, a kitchen fitter, had claimed that as he approached the bend on the A83 road at Strone Point, Mr Murray's motorbike was on his side of the road and he had to take evasive action.

But three witnesses driving a hire car behind Mr Murray were so adamant that he was riding his bike in the centre of his lane. They also said they saw Taylor's bike on the wrong side of the road. The court also heard that Mr Murray, of Kilmarnock, died from head injuries at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

His partner for 24 years, Yvonne Kerr, told the court: "It was the first time I experienced a broken heart. His death left a big hole in our life."

On Wednesday, Mr Duguid told the court that his client had been traumatised by what he had done.

Mr Duguid added: "He has struggled emotionally and he has attended counselling. His GP referred him to a consultant for specialist counselling.

"He appreciates that he will have to live with what has happened. He has expressed genuine remorse about what happened. He is perhaps fortunate to be alive."

Mr Duguid said that given the circumstances of the offence, he thought that the offence was at the "lower end" of seriousness.

The court heard that the collision took place at an accident blackspot and that Taylor tried to avoid Mr Murray before striking him.

Mr Duguid added: "This is a case where your lordship could impose a community based disposal."

Before passing sentence, Lord Brodie made reference to the guidelines for sentencing in cases in which a motorist causes a person's death by careless driving.

Banning Taylor from driving for five years, Lord Brodie added: "By way of mitigation you have shown remorse.

"You will not ride a motorcycle again. Mr Duguid described you as traumatised by your feeling of responsibility for the death of Mr Murray.

"The criminal justice social work report refers to your empathy for Mr Murray and his family. You sustained significant injury in the collision - including a fractured eye socket and a broken arm.

"You have a good employment history and are responsible for a young family.

"When all of this is taken into account in such a case, the Definite Guideline points to the making of a community order. I shall accordingly make a community payback order with a requirement for 300 hours of unpaid work to be completed in 12 months."