A DANGER driver was speeding at nearly twice the 30mph limit when he knocked over and killed a grandfather walking his dog, a court heard.

CCTV showed Carl Priestly’s Vauxhall Vectra travelling along Harry Potts Way – close to Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground – and deliver a ‘glancing blow’ to 57-year-old John Russell.

Burnley Crown Court heard experts estimated 38-year-old Priestley had been driving at between 52mph and 60mph along the road – and only hit the brake 1.5 seconds before the fatal impact.

Mr Russell, who was walking his dog CJ when he was hit by the speeding motorist, was thrown into the air by the impact of the collision, on the evening of March 23 last year.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Royal Blackburn Hospital. His Jack Russell was also killed in the collision.

The court heard Priestley – who was told he faces jail over the crash – was jailed in 2001 for driving while disqualified and breaching a community order.

He had been due to stand trial this week accused of causing death by dangerous driving but changed his plea to guilty yesterday.

Defending Philip Holden said: “While it is accepted that a sentence of imprisonment will inevitably follow in this case I would request a pre-sentence report be prepared by the probation service.

“The defendant has previous convictions for driving matters that will be taken into consideration when passing sentence, but nothing of a similar matter to these.

“He is a married man. You will see from the exchanges in his police interview, which was mostly no comment, there is reference to some of the difficulties in his life.

“In my view although it is an inevitable prison sentence the court will be assisted as to the length of the sentence by such a report.”

The case was adjourned until October 17 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Priestley, of Granville Road, Heysham, was refused bail as Judge Parry said he posed a ‘serious risk of absconding’ in his view.

He will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court.

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Judge Parry said: “You have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence. You know that I am not going to pass sentence on you today.

“I am going to pass sentence on you on October 17. It will be a lengthy term of imprisonment.”

A charge of criminal damage in relation to the injures caused to CJ was left to lie on file by prosecutor Emma Kehoe.