A SPEEDING motorist who ploughed into a disabled man in a mobility scooter has been told by a judge to prepare for prison.

Dale Ianson, 31, today (Mon, Oct 24) admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving as he was about to go on trial.

His victim, a 68-year-old, suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs and a shattered left leg among other injuries in the crash.

He was hit by Ianson in his Honda Civic as he tried to cross the A689 near Hartlepool town centre last October.

Half-an-hour before the collision, the hatchback was seen on another driver's onboard camera doing 60mph in the 40mph zone.

The victim was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where doctors also found bleeding inside his skull.

He was supported by family, and wept in court after Ianson, of Kesteven Road, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Deborah Sherwin granted him bail until he is sentenced, on a date which will be fixed.

The judge told him: "The overwhelming likelihood is you will be receiving an immediate custodial sentence for an offence of this severity."

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks told the court: "The dash-cam footage covered the defendant travelling half-an-hour before in the opposite direction on the same stretch of road.

"The Crown would submit that there is evidence that he was speeding on the way there and on the way back."