A DRIVER ran over and killed a man on a pedestrian crossing after taking a combination of drink and drugs, a court heard yesterday.

The trial of 25-year-old Darren Vout, of Elwick Gardens, Stockton, Teesside, who is accused of causing the death of Frederick Brown by dangerous driving, began at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Stephen Ashurst, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Vout, 25, had taken heroin and cannabis and drank a pint of cider hours before causing the death of Frederick Brown on Sunday, August 27, last year.

He said Mr Brown, 49, of Chopwell Close, Stockton, had just left the town's Hardwick Social Club when he was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing in Harrowgate Lane, Stockton, by a blue BMW 3-series driven by Mr Vout.

Mr Ashurst told the court that Mr Brown, a father-of-four, sustained multiple injuries after being hit by the vehicle. He died in the University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton, shortly after the accident at 10.15pm.

He told the jury that Mr Vout had been driving too fast in a residential area and had failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

Mr Ashurst said that Mr Vout was late home after failing to adhere to a 10pm curfew imposed upon him by magistrates, and was in a hurry.

He said: "Mr Vout had taken three lines of heroin, smoked some cannabis and had drunk a pint of cider before the accident, which left him unable to deal with an emergency.

"He was also driving too fast.

"A hallmark of a competent driver is he or she drives within their limits."

Mr Ashurst also told the court that rather than stop and assist, Mr Vout went to desperate attempts to get rid of the car and denied knowing anything about the accident when questioned by friends.

He said that Mr Vout told them the car had been driven by somene else at the time of the accident.

Mr Vout has denied causing Mr Brown's death and the trial, being heard before Judge Peter Armstrong, continues