A WOMAN has been warned she will be jailed after pleading guilty to causing the death of a teenager by dangerous driving.

Jackson Pickering, 18, was crossing Springfield Road in Burnley, at around 11.45pm on June 16, when he was hit by a black Volkswagen Golf near the junction with Hollingreave Road.

Mr Pickering, of Burnley, was left with serious head injuries and died four days later in Royal Preston Hospital.

The Golf driver, Victoria Barker, pleaded guilty on Monday at Burnley Crown Court to causing Mr Pickering's death by dangerous driving.

Barker, 37, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, will be sentenced on August 16.

Co-defendant George Barnes, 26, of Green Lane, Padiham, admitting assisting an offender – Barker – by setting fire to the Golf.

He also admitted dishonestly making off without paying for two meals, valued at £17.98 from Kebabish in Burnley, on the same date.

He denies dangerous driving in a Renault Clio in Springfield Road, Burnley, and driving the Volkswagen Golf dangerously in Springfield Road, Burnley, on June 16.

He will face a trial on the dangerous driving offences on October 28.

Prosecuting, Paul Brookwell said: "The not guilty pleas entered by Mr Barnes are not acceptable to the prosecution and we seek a short trial in relation to that.

"The points in issue in relation to Mr Barnes are how Mr Barnes drove to the scene and away from the scene."

Defending Barker, Andrew Nuttall said he would be seeking an adjournment to request medical reports, including a psychiatric report.

He said: "She is already under a psychiatrist and has been now for quite a long time. There is mental health issues in relation to the defendant."

Both defendants were given conditional bail.

Addressing Barker, Judge Nicholas Barker said: "Your sentence will be adjourned until August 16. There will be a pre-sentence report.

"The fact that there is a pre-sentence report being prepared and your legal advisers are seeking a psychiatric report should not and must not be seen by you as an indication of the sentence which will follow.

"You should entirely expect a custodial sentence on that date. I am sure that's what you will have been advised of.

"The court will be assisted by the probation service as to why this offence happened and your personal circumstances."

Mr Pickering's family were present at the 15-minute hearing.

Following Mr Pickering's death his family released a statement praising the avid football fan who had a heart of gold.

The statement read: "Within a family tribute, a spokesman said: "Jackson was a much loved son, grandson, uncle and brother to his nine siblings.

"An avid football and Liverpool fan, Jackson lived for football and he played for a number of local Saturday and Sunday league teams, even scoring a penalty at Turf Moor in a schools competition.

"He had a large circle of friends and an even larger heart, always being the first to offer help to anyone that needed it.

"He had a heart of gold and will be sorely missed by all who knew him."