A 34-year old Deal woman is to be sentenced just days before she is due to give birth - for causing the death of another motorist by driving carelessly.

Nirali Patel was pregnant when her car was involved in a fatal crash on the A260 Old Dover Road, Barham.

Now Patel, of Granville Road, Walmer, has admitted causing the death of Brian Marsh by driving carelessly last November.

Her barrister, Timothy Pole, told Judge Heather Norton that Patel was expecting her child around June 17 and was anxious for the case to be heard as soon as possible.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that her car had turned right, across an oncoming vehicle - in what Mr Pole said was “momentary inattention”.

He added: “It was a case of looking but not seeing. She was pregnant at the time.”

Prosecutor Martin Yale said the standard of driving “wasn’t far short of being dangerous” and Patel had given no explanation for turning when she did.

“The prosecution say that this was a high degree of carelessness,” he added.

Judge Norton imposed an interim driving ban on Patel and adjourned sentence to Friday June 2, for the preparation of a probation report.

Mr Yale added that the victim’s family was not planning to attend the sentencing hearing but would make a victim impact statement which would be given to the judge.

Judge Norton told Patel that “all sentencing options were open” including a possible jail sentence.

She was granted bail until the next hearing.