Texting motorist killed milkman

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/dorset/6354141.stm

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A Dorset teenager killed a milkman in a hit-and-run crash while sending a text message on his mobile phone.

Christopher Losper was found by a passer-by near his milk float in West Moors on 26 August 2006 - his 60th birthday - and died of head injuries.

Tony Revell, 18, from Verwood, admitted death by dangerous driving and failing to stop, at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Pc Jon Wren, of Dorset Police, said outside court on Monday that Revell was sending a text message when he crashed.

Revell had been on a night out with a group of friends in Bournemouth when the fatal crash occurred.

He dropped off some people at their home in Ferndown and was driving, with a passenger, in tandem with another Nissan Bluebird to a friend's house in Three Legged Cross.

'Loss of liberty'

Mr Losper, who was originally from Africa but had lived in Bournemouth for 20 years, was carrying out his round in Station Road in the early hours when he was hit.

Pc Wren said: "Tony received a text message on his phone. He has read the text and replied to the text.

Revell's Nissan Bluebird bore scars of the collision

"Because he has been replying to the text message, he has collided with the milk float and the milkman Christopher Losper.

"Then having collided with him, they have continued away from the scene, the two vehicles together."

Judge Roger Jarvis told Revell he "almost certainly" faces a jail term when he is sentenced on 9 March.

Michael Mackey, prosecuting, told the court the evidence did not show conclusively that the teenager knew he had hit somebody in his Nissan Bluebird.

However, Judge Jarvis said: "This is a very, very serious matter.

"Almost certainly a sentence of loss of liberty will follow following your admission to death by dangerous driving."

Revell was granted bail until he is sentenced next month.