Shrewsbury man admits causing death of 64-year-old grandfather by careless driving

Malcolm Walker was hit by a silver Ford Focus car as he got off the number 26 bus in Longden Road, Shrewsbury, on January 6 this year.

The father-of-three was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital by ambulance with serious multiple injuries but died in the early hours of the following day.

Nicholas Adams, the driver of the Ford Focus, appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday. The 47-year-old, of Belle Vue Road, pleaded guilty to a single charge of causing death by careless driving.

Mr Walker's widow, Barbara, and one of his sons were in court to hear the plea.

Adams' solicitor, Mr Timothy Pole, asked Judge Michael Challinor to consider sentencing him on the same day.

He said it was a "momentary lapse" in concentration and that the likely outcome for his client, agreed by both the defence and the prosecution, would be a community order.

Mr Philip Beardwell, prosecuting, said: "I have spoken at length to the family and they have relayed to me that they do not see a custodial sentence being in any way a positive outcome. They are fully aware of what is going on and, whether it happens today or a few weeks down the line, know what the likely sentence is to be."

But the judge instead ordered the probation service to carry out a full pre-sentence report.

"It would not be right for us to be seen to be rushing this," he said. "Certainly not in a case of this nature and bearing in mind what the family of Mr Walker have been through.

"It's important we give the time to prepare a full report on Mr Adams and his background so that when sentence comes, hopefully the family can be satisfied that justice has been done."

The case was adjourned until August 24 for the report to be prepared. Adams was bailed until then, and will return on to the court to be sentenced.

After the crash, which happened just after 4pm on January 6, police, firefighters, paramedics and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford were all called to the scene. The accident happened close to the junction of Longden Road with Old Roman Road.

The road was closed for several hours following the incident.

As well as wife Barbara, Mr Walker leaves three children – Ben, Tom and Sophie – and three grandchildren.