An 81-year-old who ran down and killed a pensioner has been banned from driving for the rest of her life.

Joan Winwood was behind the wheel of her Toyota Yaris when she took her eyes off the road and hit 86-year-old Peter Wingrove as he crossed in front of her.

RAF veteran Mr Wingrove, a great-grandfather who would have celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary this year, was fatally injured in the accident in Depot Road, Horsham.

At Lewes Crown Court yesterday, Winwood admitted careless driving and was banned from the roads and given a two-year conditional discharge.

Winwood, of Lime Kiln Road, Horsham, had initially been charged with causing death by dangerous driving but this was reduced to the lesser offence of careless driving after Crown Prosecution Service officials discussed the case with the victim’s family.

The court was told the accident happened on January 11 at about 3pm as Mr Wingrove, of The Poplars, Horsham, was walking to the shops.

The former president of Horsham Museum Society, who walked with a stick, had almost reached the safety of the pavement when he was hit by Winwood’s car, which was travelling at between 10mph and 15mph.

After the crash, a shocked Winwood inadvertently locked herself in her car in her distress.

She told police she had taken her eyes off Mr Wingrove to look for the turning she intended to take when she struck him.

Andrew Selby, defending, said she felt remorse every day.

He said: “She has lived with the consequences of her actions every day since and will do for the rest of her days. She has no desire to ever drive again.”

Judge Charles Kemp said it was difficult to pass sentence because of the circumstances. He ordered Winwood to pay £250 costs, adding that any fine would not reflect the tragedy of the death.

He told Winwood: “I accept you were not driving fast or furiously but your concentration lapsed. Nothing I do to you today can possibly bring him back or in any way comfort those members of his family he has left behind.”