A DRIVER who admitted causing the death of a pensioner in a head-on collision has been jailed for ten months.

Richard Williams, 73, admitted causing the death of Jeanette Harrison, who was 77, by careless driving during the first day of his trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Mrs Harrison, of Pebmarsh, had been a passenger in a Vauxhall Astra driven by her husband along the B1115 near Great Finborough on January 26 2016, when the car was hit by Williams’ Range Rover.

Williams, of Bury Road, Hitcham, denied a charge of death by dangerous driving when appearing in court last year but admitted causing death by careless driving when he re-appeared in court.

David Wilson, prosecuting, told the court the collision was caused by Williams, who had driven his Range Rover on the wrong side of the road when overtaking a car and a school minibus on a left hand bend on the B1115.

Mr Wilson said Mr Harrison had “next to no reaction time” to avoid the oncoming Range Rover approaching on his side of the road.

Williams had previously claimed he had swerved on to the wrong side of the road to avoid an animal.

Richard Wood, appearing for Williams, said his client admitted he had driven carelessly and blamed no-one but himself for the collision.

Mrs Harrison suffered fatal injuries from the crash and died at the scene. Williams and Mr Harrison were taken to hospital with the latter sustaining a fractured sternum.

Judge Martyn Levett sentenced Williams to ten months in prison and disqualified him from driving for two and a half years.

Det Insp Chris Hinitt, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “This was a completely avoidable collision which had devastating consequences resulting in the death of Jean Harrison.

“Richard Williams attempted to perform a manoeuvre which was completely unsuited to the section of road he was travelling on with a bend approaching and on the crest of a hill.

“In accepting responsibility for this collision by pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving, he has at least spared Mrs Harrison’s family the pain of a trial.

"He will now spend a number of months in prison to reflect on his actions which will no doubt haunt him for the rest of his life.”