A HIT-and-run motorist who killed a Broadway antiques dealer has been jailed for three-and-a-half years at Worcester Crown Court.

Malcolm Keyte, who had been drinking, failed to notice 69-year-old Peter Keil crossing the road near his shop because he was changing a tape in the car's cassette player, said William Rickarby, prosecuting.

Mr Keil hit the windscreen and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

Keyte panicked and drove off but rang police an hour later to confess, then went back to the crash scene in High Street, Broadway.

A roadside breath test proved positive but Keyte was below the limit at the police station.

Mr Rickarby said he admitted drinking two-and-a-half pints of strong lager which would have given him, at the time of the crash, a breath-alcohol reading of between 41mcg and 55mcg, compared to a legal limit of 35mcg.

Keyte, aged 47, of Butchers Row, Broadway, admitted causing death by careless driving having consumed excess alcohol.

Judge Andrew Geddes, who also banned him for five years, said it was "a terrible tragedy" caused by Keyte not paying attention to the road.

Mr Keil, who lived alone above his shop and was well known in the town, was run over on Thursday, November 1, last year at around 5pm.

The defendant was "fiddling around" with a tape but there was no evidence of speeding, said Mr Rickarby. He had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in 1987.

A psychologist reported that Keyte had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since the accident.

Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said Keyte had been guilty of a momentary lapse of attention.

He said another driver who saw the victim crossing the road told police he "cut it fine" and feared a crash would happen.

Mr Mooney said: "It was a risky crossing, bearing in mind his age and the street lighting. But the fault lies with the defendant."