A 'CARELESS driver' was speeding when he crashed into a pub car park and killed a father, a jury heard.

Daniel Freeman Hollins denies causing death by careless driving and while uninsured and unlicensed at his trial at Worcester Crown Court which began on Monday. The 20-year-old of Swinyard Road, Malvern crashed at the Robin Hood pub, Gloucester Road, Castlemorton at 7.30pm on Friday, May 24 last year. After veering off the road, his car struck two parked cars, including that of Raymond Johnstone before victim and vehicle were dragged into a timber and brick building which collapsed on top of him. Mr Johnstone suffered 'multiple and fatal injuries'. While it is accepted that Freeman Hollins had no valid licence and was uninsured, he denies his driving fell below that of a competent and careful driver.

Harpreet Sandhu, prosecuting, said Mr Johnstone's son Mark left the pub first, turning right to drive north in the direction of Welland and saw the defendant's blue Suzuki Liana heading in the opposite direction on the 50mph road.

"It was Mark Johnstone's impression that the defendant was driving at a speed which which was significantly in excess of the speed limit for that road" said Mr Sandhu. The prosecution say Mark's wife, Ruth, then edged out of the pub carpark in her silver Volkswagen Passat with windows open and radio off and, when she was sure it was safe, also turned right in a single manoeuvre. She saw the defendant 'straddling the central lines' and 'thought he was going to collide head on with her own vehicle' but 'that didn't happen'.

The defendant swerved to his left and entered the pub carpark, avoiding a head on crash with Ruth Johnstone. Raymond Johnstone, the last of the Johnstones to leave the pub, was getting into his Land Rover Freelander, parked at the southern edge of the carpark. Mr Sandhu said it was significant there was no barrier between the carpark and Gloucester Road. The defendant's car struck an empty Kia Sportage parked near the pub's entrance, sending it spinning through the car park.

The Liana then struck the Freelander, sending it into the timber building. "As it did so Raymond Johnstone, standing next to that Freelander, was dragged into the building with the car," said Mr Sandhu. The defendant's car was forced back into the main road. The trial continues.