A FATHER has admitted being responsible for killing his son. Paul Marshall, 56, was due to stand trial yesterday for causing the death by dangerous driving of his 20-year-old son, Scott.

But a hearing that was scheduled for two weeks was brought to an abrupt end when he changed his plea to guilty.

Judge Les Spitle adjourned the case at Teesside Crown Court for six weeks so pre-sentence reports can be prepared by probation officers.

Marshall, of Bexhill Square, Town End Farm, Sunderland, appeared in court on crutches and his barrister Caroline Goodwin described his as being in "considerable ill health, exacerbated dramatically by these tragic events".

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.

Marshall was given bail until the next hearing.

Miss Goodwin said he has suffered a "very traumatic" time and "complete and utter devastation".