A motorcyclist whose career and marriage collapsed after sustaining a brain injury in a Coulsdon road smash has received more than half a million pounds compensation.

Dominic Luckhurst, 39, was awarded the £570,000 payout last Thursday after the High Court heard how his personality changed forever after the crash.

Mr Luckhurst, then the manager of Doble's Motorcycles in Brighton Road, Coulsdon, received serious head injuries when his bike crashed into a car pulling out on to the A23 Brighton Road in 2000.

He also suffered internal injuries, was in a coma for 10 days and remained in hospital for eight months.

After the accident Mr Luckhurst's personality changed and he developed a short temper, impulsiveness and an incapability of managing his financial affairs.

Before the accident Mr Luckhurst lived with his wife, Catherine, and two-year-old daughter, Olivia, in Horsham, Sussex, but is now dependent on his father, Anthony Luckhurst, and lives with him in Gillingham, Kent.

Anthony Luckhurst said: "In the four-and-a-half years since the accident he has been receiving medical attention that has enabled him to return to work.

"As a result of the accident and brain damage he is unable to function as well as before, but nine months ago he returned to the motorcycle company he was employed by at the time of the accident, then as a manager, although now at a less demanding job.

"The compensation he was awarded in the High Court will be put in trust to help care for him for the rest of his life to and also to mitigate his potential future loss of earnings."

The crash caused traumatic brain injury and left Dominic with some left-handed paralysis, headaches, fatigue and reduced memory and concentration.

His marriage collapsed and although he has returned to work at Doble's, he is only able to do a job with significantly less responsibility.

Mr Luckhurst was helped by his father to sue the car driver, who is from Hooley, and Mr Justice Jack said the settlement agreed by her insurance company was "sensible and reasonable".