A NEWSPAPER delivery driver who killed a 56-year-old motorist by jumping a red traffic light has been jailed for 21 months.

Alexander Marsh allegedly told witnesses he was driving at 80-90mph and had also shot the lights during the rest of the week.

Victim Roy Bouston was dead on arrival at hospital after the crash near the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, on July 14 last year.

Marsh, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, had taken over the job for a friend in hospital and was trying to make up time as he dropped off papers at news outlets.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Marten Coates also banned Marsh for five years and told him: "I've come to the conclusion you found the timescale for deliveries extremely tight.

"No doubt you'd been driving quite fast around country roads. This wasn't momentary inattention but a deliberate act of dangerous driving."

The judge said no sentence would make the lives of the victim's family any easier. Marsh also appreciated that fact in a letter he sent the family, in which he expressed genuine remorse.

Samantha Powis, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court, described how Marsh's Ford Transit collided side-on with Mr Bouston's van at around 6am as he travelled to work as a lorry driver for Malvern Hill District Council.

The 22-year-old went through lights which were normally on red until triggered by oncoming vehicles through a sensor.

The defendant could not now recall what he said at the scene of the crash but a police investigator put his impact speed at over 40mph.

At first Marsh claimed the lights were green and changed to amber as he went through.

He had put his wedding off out of respect for his victim and his wife-to-be was expecting a baby, said Andrew Lockhart, defending.

"He doesn't remember anything about the accident. He ran a gross risk and for no good reason took away a life. He doesn't dispute he was travelling at over 40mph."

Mr Lockhart said the crash was caused by a man put under pressure by his work and a bad error of judgement. There was no evidence of racing, drink or drugs.