Melbourne man who accidentally killed his girlfriend in Thailand jet ski accident spared jail

A Melbourne man, charged over the accidental death of his girlfriend in a jetski crash in Thailand, has been spared jail.

Twenty-year-old Emily Jayne Collie died when their vessels collided at high speed off Phuket on February 6, in a holiday tragedy.

At Phuket Provincial Court, a Thai judge on Thursday handed down a suspended sentence to 22-year-old Thomas Keating, who was found guilty of causing death by negligence.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail, suspended for two years, and was also fined $185.

The charge specified that "the accused committed the crime without intent but also without care".

He had been barred from leaving Thailand pending the completion of his trial, but will now return home in coming days.

In court, Keating was accompanied by family members, his lawyer and Craig Ferguson, the Australian Consul-General for Phuket.

Renting a personal jet-ski is popular at many Thai beach resorts. Keating has said he was blinded by the sun when his jet-ski crashed into hers.

He declined to comment to reporters after leaving the court.

Soon after last month's tragedy, the grieving man wrote a heartfelt tribute to his partner on his Facebook page.

"I love you so much Emily and I wish I could just bring you back into my arms. I'm so broken and I know I'll never never be able to mend."