A driver accused of killing two men in a car crash has denied causing their death by dangerous driving, but admitted lesser charges.

Ashley Howard entered guilty pleas to two offences of causing death by careless driving.

He denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving but admitted two charges of causing death while uninsured and two of causing death while unlicensed.

Prosecutor Tom Dunn said the pleas were not acceptable and there would be a trial on the charges the 22-year-old denied.

Howard was with Rosie Crittenden in a Renault Clio when he gave friends Michael Shepherd, 27, and Karl Buchan, 23, both from Faversham, a lift in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The car crashed into the Jubilee Pump historic monument in London Road, Teynham, killing dad-of-four Mr Shepherd and Mr Buchan. Miss Crittenden was seriously injured.

Gordon Ross, defending, told Judge Philip Statman as members of victims’ families sat in the public gallery at Maidstone Crown Court: “He is extremely remorseful. He accepts blame for what has happened.

“He is distraught about what happened and he is distraught for the families about what has happened.”

After the crash, Howard, of Carisbrooke Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, was detained in King’s College Hospital in London for three months.

Judge Statman apologised for having to set a trial date as far ahead as May 22 next year.

“That seems a very long way away,” he said. “So much of importance has to be determined between now and then.

“We are fixing (trials) well into the end of next year. We are doing our level best to get cases of this sensitivity on as quickly as possible.

“He is distraught about what happened and he is distraught for the families about what has happened" - Gordon Ross

“There are cases which have to be approached and given as much priority as they possibly can, because in the background are families on both sides to be considered.”

The judge said he was “acutely aware” of the effect of the delays on families concerned.

“The only way this case can be brought forward at the end of the day is if we have more judges sitting in our Crown Court,” he continued.

“We are taking other cases which are sensitive with regard to children. They have to take priority too. It is a very difficult balancing exercise.”

Judge Statman imposed an interim driving ban on Howard. Unconditional bail was continued.