A father who admitted killing his son as he towed a car across a dual carriageway has escaped jail.

Paul Marshall, 56, was banned from driving for three years and given a 12-month suspended sentence when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court.

Marshall admiited causing the death by dangerous driving of his 20-year-old son Scott.

Marshall, of Bexhill Square, Town End Farm, Sunderland, Wearside, appeared in court on crutches.

His barrister Caroline Goodwin described how he had been devastated by the tragedy.

The accident happened on the A19 near Hartlepool, on July 20, last year, when Marshall was towing a car in which his son was a passenger.

At the time, police said the cars pulled on to the northbound carriageway of the road near the turn-off for Dalton Piercy and the broken down vehicle was hit by a Citroen ZX.

At an earlire hearing, Miss Goodwin said Marshall had suffered a "very traumatic" time and "complete and utter devastation".