A Stoke-on-Trent pensioner killed a student in a freak accident when his Mini smashed into traffic lights - causing it to fall down.

Gordon Jackson admitted he 'should never have been behind the wheel' when he ploughed into the traffic lights as 20-year-old Andrew Roberston was waiting to cross.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Jackson had pulled back into a lane in front of a camper van but at too acute an angle, hitting the kerb and the traffic lights which then toppled on to Mr Robertson.

A few minutes later, 70-year-old Jackson text his partner to say he'd suffered a blackout and wrote: 'I think I have killed someone'.

Now the defendant, of Weston Court, New Kingsway, Weston Coyney, has been handed an 18-month community order after pleading guilty to causing his death by careless driving.

Gordon Jackson appeared in court over the crash, which happened on March 30, 2017

Judge Sally Hancox also imposed a six-month curfew on Jackson between the hours of 6pm and 8am, NottinghamshireLive reports.

And she banned him from the roads for 15 months, ordering he take and successfully complete a further driving test.

The judge told the pensioner: "Your lapse of attention and subsequent collision with a traffic light post was and is the reason for the death of Andrew Robertson."

And she said it was a continuing tragedy for his parents, family, friends, his partner, who were in court, and his young Godchildren.

She heard the second-year biochemistry undergraduate, at the University of Nottingham, was  'strong, smart, independent, kind and caring'.

As far as March 30 was concerned, one of the facts of "this enormous tragedy" was there was no need or necessity for Jackson to perform the manoeuvre in his Mini.

She added: "Your driving fell below that of a careful and competent driver.

"You said 'I don't think I really should have been driving and, to be honest, after what happened today, I don't think I will be driving again'."

Andrew Robertson

The court heard Jackson surrendered his driving licence and has not driven since the crash on the A52 at Lenton, Nottingham, at 4.45pm on March 30, 2017.

Malcolm Galloway, mitigating, said the court had heard Jackson - who had been travelling from Stoke-on-Trent to Lincolnshire - had no memory of the event.

He added: "You are aware within a couple of minutes past the event, he was texting his partner saying he'd had a blackout and 'I think I have killed someone'."

James Thomas, prosecuting, said there were no defects to Jackson's Mini and no evidence that he had drunk alcohol or used a mobile phone.

Jackson, who was of impeccable character, had held a full driving licence, and the Mini was taxed and insured.

He also said there no evidence to suggest a medical cause for the defendant to pass out.

In a statement released shorty after the crash, Mr Robertson's family said: "He was a loving son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and boyfriend.

"He had many friends both at university and at home. Words cannot express how much he will be missed and we are extremely saddened by his death.

"Andrew was caring, fun-loving, sociable, supportive and very easy-going. He was a team player who always kept his word and looked out for others."

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