A WOMAN was told “all sentencing options remain open, including custody” after she admitted causing the death of an elderly pedestrian by careless driving.

Judge James Adkin was addressing 64-year-old Anne Patterson after she pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death while driving without due care and attention.

It follows the accident in which her Ford Fiesta was in collision with pedestrian Eric Rose, who was using a zebra crossing on Park Road, in South Moor, Stanley, at 6.45am on Thursday January 16.

The 79-year-old local man suffered head injuries on impact and was taken to hospital, where his death was confirmed on Saturday February 1.

Police closed the road for three hours after the collision, including taping off the vicinity of the crossing, while inquiries took place at the scene.

Following her guilty plea, made during a short hearing at Durham Crown Court, her counsel, Andrew Nuttall, asked if sentencing could be adjourned to allow for the preparation of a background report on his client by the Probation Service.

Judge Adkin agreed, but, given her admission to the serious motoring charge, he put in place an interim driving disqualification to start immediately.

He told the defendant: “In adjourning for a report, please don’t think I have decided what the sentence will be in this case.

“I haven’t. All options remain open to me, including a custodial sentence.”

Judge Adkin agreed to extend bail on the defendant, of Wardle Street, South Moor, Stanley, on the basis she returns for the sentencing hearing, at the court, on Friday November 27.