A WOMAN was killed outside her Herefordshire home after a delivery driver reversed into her, a court has heard.

Marcin Komsta admitted causing death by careless driving when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Emergency services were called out after delivery driver Komsta hit a woman in the courtyard of Dovecotes, Mansel Lacy, at 4pm on May 6, prosecutor Shafquat Reaz said.

Komsta, who was out on his rounds that day, had been reversing his Renault Trafic van when he hit pedestrian Kathleen Howard, who had been walking across the courtyard to her home.

In a statement made in May 2021, a spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said the air ambulance from Strensham was joined at the scene by two ambulances and a paramedic officer, finding a woman in critical condition with bystander CPR already in progress.

But despite crews administering advanced trauma care, she was confirmed dead at the scene.

Mr Reaz told magistrates that the case fell outside of their sentencing powers and should be sent to the crown court for sentencing.

Chris Aggrey, for Komsta, told the court he disagreed, and that the death had been caused by momentary inattention with no aggravating features.

"He was delivering to an address at the location, and after his delivery he got back in his van and did a cursory examination of the rear of the van, but admits as per his interview that he did not pay great attention to his blind spot and began reversing the van gently," Mr Aggrey said.

"He did not even manage to fully release the clutch when he made contact with the victim.

"He is a professional driver with a valid licence and insurance and has no previous motoring convictions. He is still traumatised by what happened."

The court heard 45-year-old Komsta, who has been in his job for three years, had called 999 and stayed at the scene to wait for emergency crews to arrive.

Magistrates told Komsta that the fact he was a professional driver put the case beyond their sentencing powers and said he would be sent to the crown court for sentencing.

"We do note he has expressed remorse, but as a professional driver he should have paid more attention before reversing," magistrates said.

Magistrates handed Komsta, who is still employed as a delivery driver, an interim driving ban.

Komsta, of Langdale Drive, Worcester, will appear before Worcester Crown Court for sentencing on February 11.