Man pleads guilty to death by careless driving after knocking Labour peer Lord Thomas Taylor off mobility scooter

A lorry driver who ran over and killed a Labour peer as he crossed the road outside the House of Lords is facing jail today.

Kul Pandey, 56, was behind the wheel of his Mercedes Actros truck when he hit Lord Thomas Taylor of Blackburn's mobility scooter.

The 87-year-old Labour life peer spent nine days in hospital before finally succumbing to injuries suffered in the crash.

Pandey, who is originally from Nepal but holds a British driving licence, appeared at the Old Bailey this morning to plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC freed him on bail until a sentencing hearing on April 9.

The court heard Lord Taylor was trying to cross the road in Millbank, near to the Houses of Parliament, at around 6pm on November 16 when the crash happened.

Michael Rawlinson, defending Pandey, told the court the driver had failed to stop at a give-way sign and did not notice Lord Taylor's scooter.

"When he started the vehicle, I think the reality is he did not see Lord Taylor, whether that was because he already checked his mirror and missed him, or he should have taken more care."

The court heard Pandey has lost his truck-driving job as a result of the crash and will be banned from driving when he is sentenced.

Pandey, from Feltham, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.