A Whitchurch teacher lost control of her car, hitting and killing a pedestrian as she braked when she saw him about to cross the road, a court heard.

Victoria Ford’s car began skidding before colliding with 71-year-old John Abbott as he crossed the A49 at Prees Green, near Whitchurch, on February 5. The 26-year-old, of Fairways Drive, Whitchurch, admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention.

She also admitted three charges of driving with defective tyres at a previous hearing.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday she was sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a total of £1,665, and banned from driving for 15 months.

The court heard the night before the accident Ford had stayed at a friend’s house in Shrewsbury and was driving home. As she was driving around a bend in the road she saw a person about to cross the road and carried out an emergency stop.

Mr Robert James Edwards, prosecuting, said Ford began skidding and hit Mr Abbott, sending him into the ditch.

Mr Edwards said: “She instantly stopped, as did a number of passing motorists who helped treat Mr Abbott. He was airlifted to University Hospital North Staffordshire where he was pronounced dead, caused by multiple injuries.

“Under interview, the officer in the case reported that Ford was the most remorseful he had ever seen someone in this position and she complied with officers completely.”

The vehicle was found to have three defective tyres, but experts had concluded that did not contribute to the accident.

Judge Robin Onions fined Ford £150 for each of the three defective tyres and ordered her to pay costs of £1,200 and a £15 victim surcharge. He said: “Let this be a lesson to you and I want it to be a lesson to everyone who reads about this case.

“There are people who will no doubt think that this may be a light sentence, but I feel it is just. Locking Miss Ford up would serve no benefit to the victim, her family, colleagues or friends.”

Mr Earl Pinnock, for Ford, said Ford had entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity and had shown considerable remorse.

By Andrew Morris