A VAN driver who ran over a killed a great grandmother in the town centre has been banned from the road for 12 months.

Stephen Wiltshire failed to check the blind spot at the rear of his vehicle before reversing into 80-year-old Annie Griffiths at the side of Primark. Despite other motorists sounding their horns and pedestrians trying to get his attention the 24-year-old failed to stop.

Meanwhile Mrs Griffiths, who was not wearing her hearing aid, was also unaware of the warning and also did not notice the beeping of the van's reversing horn.

As a result of the impact the pensioner, formerly chief nursing officer for WH Smith and an Old Town stalwart at Christ Church, the Mothers' Union and baby clinic, died at the scene.

Now after hearing Wiltshire had a momentary lapse of concentration before the impact a judge put him on a one-year community order.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the accident happened at about 5pm on Monday, January 4, last year.

She said Rentokil worker Wiltshire had been called to a job at Marks and Spencer in the town centre and arrived at College Street looking for somewhere to park.

After initially pulling up at the bollards opposite Lloyds Bank he went to reverse into a space in the loading bay at the side of Primark, she said.

But as he set off he had not noticed Mrs Griffiths, who was moving with the aid of a wheeled walker, directly behind his vehicle.

Despite only moving a few van lengths before stopping as a passer by smashed her hand on the side of his vehicle, he had knocked down and gone over the old lady.

Miss Squire said: "It became immediately obvious to people in that area that the van was on course to collide with Mrs Griffiths. She was walking with her back to the van. Some of those present did their best to alert both Mr Wiltshire and Mrs Griffiths to the imminent danger of the reversing van.

"Mr Taylor was sounding a horn, Mr Litt, also waiting, was sounding a horn. Pedestrians were shouting.

"Mr Williams did not hear those warnings in time and he did not see Mrs Griffiths behind his van despite looking in those rear view mirrors."

Wiltshire, of Witts Lane, Purton, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by careless driving.

Kate Blumgart, defending, said her client had not driven since the incident and was very sorry for what he had done and wished to apologise to her family.

"In his own words he describes this as a year from hell for him but far, far worse for them," she said.

He had never got a speeding ticket in the past, she said, and had no other involvement in the criminal justice system.

Passing sentence Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "You simply had not taken sufficient steps to make sure that the route you were taking was unobstructed.

"Other drivers in parked cars tried to get your attention by sounding their horns and pedestrians also tried to get your attention, but sadly it was too late.

"You failed to note whether there was a person in the blind spot behind your vehicle."

He imposed a one-year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work, 10 sessions of rehabilitation activity requirement, a one-year ban and extended test.