A 23-YEAR-OLD man will admit driving the car that crashed into a pensioner on a mobility scooter, fatally injuring him, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Najeeb Hussain was unrepresented by a barrister, but had his solicitor with him, when he made his first appearance at the court yesterday.

Hussain, of Addison Avenue, Bradford Moor, Bradford, is charged with causing the death of Michael McDermott, 70, by driving a Seat Leon Cupra dangerously, in Leeds Road, Thornbury, Bradford, on Friday, February 20.

He also faces four further charges relating to the same incident: failing to stop after a road accident; failing to report the accident; causing death by driving a vehicle when unlicensed; and causing death by driving a vehicle while uninsured.

Slim, bearded Hussain, who wore a black t-shirt for the hearing, will next appear at the court on November 13 for a case management hearing.

His three day trial was fixed to start on January 18.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said industrial action by solicitors and barristers meant trial counsel were not standing in to cover for each other.

"In serious cases, it is difficult to make substantial progress," he said.

But he said Mr McDermott's family would be anxious for the case to be heard sooner rather than later.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court: "There will be no dispute that the defendant was the driver and that the collision caused the death."

Mr Sharp said there was high quality CCTV of the collision and other camera footage showed what happened in the aftermath of the crash.

There were many witnesses but only one or two would be needed to give evidence in court because of the CCTV material, he told the court.

Judge Thomas told Hussain, who is on bail, that the next time he came to court, his barrister would be there to represent him.

As part of his bail conditions, Hussain has surrendered his passport to the police and must not apply for any international travel documents or contact a named witness.

Mr McDermott died at the scene of the crash.

The father-of-seven, who was affectionately known as Micky Mack, was on his way home from a shopping trip and a visit to the Post Office when he was killed.

He was born and bred in Ireland but had settled in Bradford more than 30 years ago.