A NEWSPAPER delivery driver killed a 56-year-old motorist after jumping a red traffic light near Malvern's Three Counties Showground, a court was told.

Alexander Marsh admitted afterwards he was speeding at 80-90mph because he was late and had shot the lights the rest of the week too, said Samantha Powis, prosecuting.

Marsh's Ford Transit collided side-on with a Ford Escort van being driven by father-of-two Roy Bouston from Upton-upon-Severn. The victim was taken to hospital but found to be dead on arrival.

The defendant could not recall what he said at the scene of the crash and a police investigator had put his impact speed at 40mph, said defence barrister Andrew Lockhart.

Judge Marten Coates adjourned the case at Worcester Crown Court until tomorrow to hear evidence from eye-witnesses.

He said it was important to determine whether Marsh had been deliberately taking risks or was guilty of a momentary lapse of concentration.

The 22-year-old, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He was granted bail but the judge warned jail was inevitable.

The court heard the smash took place at 5.40am on July 14 last year as Marsh delivered papers to newsagents as a favour for a friend who was in hospital.

Miss Powis said the traffic lights on Hanley Road were controlled by a sensor but were still on red when Marsh, approaching from Hanley Swan, went through them.

Mr Bouston, coming from the Gloucester direction, was on his way to work as a long-distance lorry driver for Malvern Hills District Council.

Colleagues of Marsh told police he was "always in a hurry".

He claimed the lights were green and changed to amber as he went through.

He had previous convictions for abusing the telephone system, theft, taking a vehicle without consent and driving uninsured.

Mr Lockhart said Marsh was due to get married but had put off the wedding out of respect for his victim.

He was an easy-going, likeable young man who had been under pressure to deliver papers after a number of complaints for being late.

"This accident came about through fatigue and lack of attention. A bad error of judgement gave rise to this tragic death," Mr Lockhart added.

He said Marsh had said he would have to live with it for the rest of his life. There was no evidence of racing, drink or drugs.

Judge Coates said the courts could never compensate for the loss of a loved one, but the basis of sentence had to be clear.