A drug-driver killed a father and daughter and injured three other family members in an "entirely avoidable" crash, jurors have ruled.

Yoram Hirshfeld, 81, and pregnant Noga Sella, 37, died when Nitesh Bissendary’s car mounted a pavement and mowed down the family-of-five in Ramsgate in August.

During his trial at Canterbury Crown Court, Bissendary, 31, from Manston, denied causing their deaths by dangerous driving.

But jurors today returned unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for four hours and eight minutes.

After the verdicts were delivered, Bissendary could be seen sitting down in the dock, taking deep breaths.

He had argued he became distracted while attempting to lift a faulty clutch with his hand while turning onto the route.

And he insisted he ran from the scene “in a panic” after not realising he had struck anyone - despite Mrs Sella being trapped under the wreckage of his black Alfa Romeo.

Bissendary returned to his vehicle with his parents shortly afterwards to retrieve cocaine from his car, as emergency workers treated the injured, the prosecution said.

But Bissendary claimed he was unaware of most of the injured family members and only wished to switch off the ignition.

He also claimed he refused to give blood as part of a drug test in the aftermath, because he suffers from a needle phobia.

The tragedy unfolded outside a multi-storey car park in Leopold Street at about 9.30pm on August 10, when the five victims - who were visiting from Cambridge - were returning to their hotel following a meal.

Opening the case, Prosecutor Nina Ellin said the crash was “entirely avoidable” and Bissendary’s judgement was impaired after taking cocaine.

"The Crown say the fault of the collision was entirely the defendant's," she said.

"The collision was entirely avoidable.

"The very fact that the vehicle mounted the kerb showed that the defendant was not controlling his vehicle as a competent and careful driver should do."

Defending, Sinder Singh Gohlan said Bissendary’s driving was not dangerous, adding he had a momentary lapse in concentration while resolving a clutch issue.

Mrs Sella was pronounced dead at the scene and Mr Hirshfeld died shortly afterwards.

Mrs Sella's husband Omer, 40, suffered internal organ damage and their five-year-old daughter sustained a life-threatening head injury.

The couple's eight-year-old son suffered shock and minor injuries.

Bissendary, of Highlands Glade in Manston, was found guilty of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Before trial, he admitted two lesser charges of causing death by careless driving.

He also pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, failing to provide a sample for analysis and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

He will return for sentencing tomorrow.