A MAN has been warned he faces a ‘very substantial period of imprisonment’ after admitting to causing the death of a mother-of-two by dangerous driving.

Damian Raeburn, 31, appeared in the dock at Burnley Crown Court this morning when he admitted to causing the death of Susan Shaw, who was fatally hit by a blue Vauxhall Corsa in High Street, Rishton, on Boxing Day.

Appearing in the dock wearing a light grey shirt and tie he also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence or insurance.

Detectives launched a wide-scale manhunt after the driver of the Corsa left the scene. Raeburn, of Stanley Street, Accrington, was eventually arrested on December 30.

Police had initially attempted to stop the Corsa in Lower Audley Street, Blackburn, and a chase ensued. The chase had come to a stop in Rishton, before the fatal collision which happened at around 5.50pm. Ms Shaw, a charity fundraiser, received medical attention but died at the scene.

Officers recovered the Corsa in nearby Cliff Street

Defending Mark Stuart said that his client’s main mitigation would be his guilty plea and his full admission to officers at the police station. Mr Stuart said Raeburn had handed a letter into the court, but that was an apology to the Shaw family rather than any attempt at mitigation.

The sentencing council guidelines state that the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years imprisonment but Mr Stuart said his client was entitled to a one third reduction because of his early guilty plea.

Mr Stuart said: “We accept this is an immediate custodial sentence of some length. I have spoken to the defendant and we are not in disagreement this will fall into category one (the highest sentencing category). He didn’t have a licence and he didn’t have insurance and they are both aggravating factors to causing death by dangerous driving.”

The court heard Raeburn has previous convictions for failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.

Remanding Raeburn into custody, Judge Beverley Lunt warned him he was facing a lengthy spell of imprisonment.

Judge Lunt said: “I know you are in custody but I am disqualifying you from driving from this moment. I will sentence you here on February 21. The sentence is inevitable. It’s going to be imprisonment. It’s going to be a very substantial period of imprisonment. I will be giving you full credit for your plea today.”