A man who fell asleep at the wheel of his van is facing prison after pleading guilty to causing the death of a woman out jogging.
Shanmugarasa Vinayagasivampillai, 34, of Meadway, Surbiton, appeared at Guildford Crown Court today where he admitted a charge of death by dangerous driving.
Louisa Gammie, 39, a married mother from Worcester Park, was on her morning run when she was struck by his Primastar Nissan van on Old Malden Lane, in Worcester Park, on November 8 at 11am.
She died a day later at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, from a serious head injury.
Addressing Vinayagasivampillai, who is disqualified from driving, Judge Christopher Critchlow said: “You must expect to go to prison.”
The court heard how the defendant has previous driving convictions, including driving without insurance and driving after having too much to drink
His barrister said: “He had been working terribly long hours and fell asleep.
“Much of the mitigation will relate to why he had to work such long hours.”
Vinayagasivampillai pleaded not guilty to causing death by driving while unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured. This charge will 'lie on file'.
He has been released on bail and will return to Guildford Crown Court on May 15 to be sentenced.
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