A DUSTCART driver has been cleared of causing death by dangerous driving following an accident which killed a Broadway woman.

Ian Rushton, aged 42, of Chilton Avenue, Worcester, was cleared by a jury following a three-day trial at Hereford Crown Court.

He was fined £1,000 and given eight penalty points on his licence after being found guilty of a lesser charge of careless driving.

Rushton had been at the steering wheel of an 18.7 tonne dustcart which collided with 45-year-old Anne Girling's Peugeot 106 at Station Road, Broadway, on May 5, 2004.

Mrs Girling from the nearby village of Laverton died of multiple injuries.

The jury had heard prosecution evidence that Rushton was speeding at 48mph in a 30mph zone.

However, CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station showed Mrs Girling turning into a caravan park then attempting a three-point-turn before crossing into the wrong side of the road where the truck hit her side on.

Rushton said, in defence, that he had no chance to stop and the death had left him devastated.

He no longer works for Clearaway, his employer at the time.

Following the sentencing his defence counsel Brain Dean said that Rushton had sold his home and was finding it hard to drive because he had been left so traumatised.

The judge, recorder Adrian Reynolds, said: "I can't imagine what you were thinking about when you were driving this way. I should imagine the truth is you were not thinking about much at all."

He added it was a tragic case. "I have no doubt that you have been grievously affected by what happened that day but it is nothing compared to what happened to that woman and to those that were close to her."

A clearly relieved Rushton wept and hugged his family outside the courtroom but did not wish to comment on the case.