Pensioner, 95, faces prison after she killed middle-aged man working in cemetery by accidentally stepping on accelerator

A 95-year-old woman faces prison after admitting killing a middle-aged man as he worked in a cemetery, by accidentally pushing the accelerator.

Frail Gertrude Lister hobbled into crown court using a walking stick and was told by a judge that despite her age, she faced the "very real" prospect of being locked up.

Lister today admitted a charge of causing death by dangerous driving but was told to stay sitting down as Judge Paul Dugdale told her she would immediately be banned from driving.

She was at the wheel of her Hyundai car in a cemetery near her home in upmarket Bray, Berkshire, when she pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.

Lister ran over and crushed 47-year-old cemetery worker, Paul Mills, to death as he tended graves.

He had only been in the job for six days.

Elderly Lister spoke only to confirm her date of birth and to enter her plea at Reading Crown Court today but her defence barrister, Richard Shepherd, said that the tragic incident occurred after an accidental step on the accelerator of her Hyundai i30.

The family of cemetery maintenance worker Mr Mills sat in the public gallery and cried after the case was adjourned for sentencing until January 4.

Prosecutor Graham Smith told the judge: "Events date back to February 14, the circumstances are, in any view, tragic."

He said that Mr Mills had been working just six days for company ISS, responsible for the maintenance of Braywick Cemetery in Maidenhead, Berks., when he was killed.

Defence counsel Mr Shepherd said: "Mrs Lister has taken the brave decision with her family to enter a guilty plea. She does not want to put the Mills family through further heartache."

The 95-year-old from Vicarage Walk, Bray, arrived at Reading Crown Court in a pick-up truck driven by a family member and parked in a disabled bay near the court.

Mr Shepherd told the court how Lister had already surrendered her driving licence and was or previous good character.

Adjourning the case for sentencing, Judge Paul Dugdale granted Lister unconditional bail and said: "Mrs Lister, please stay sitting down.

"You have pleaded guilty to what is a serious offence, but it is a somewhat unusual case and, above all, this it is an utterly tragic case for the family of Paul Miller.

"The decision is not straightforward and it requires a lot of thinking from the prosecution and defence.

"It would be wrong for me to rush that today. I need to work out whether this should be a custody sentence or whether it should be suspended.

"I am going to extend your bail unconditionally as before, but do not read anything into this. There remains a quite real risk you might lose your liberty on January 4.

"Because of your guilty plea I am going to impose a disqualification from driving. You are going to be disqualified as of now.

"It would be a criminal offence were you to get behind the wheel and drive."

At the time of the tragic death, Mr Mills' family released a statement saying: "Paul was very much an outside person. He liked his job and the people he worked with.

"He had only been working for ISS for six days. They have been very supportive and we thank them for all their help.

"He leaves behind his brothers, children and grandchildren.

"They will never forget him, and will remember him with love."

Bereaved wife Tracey Mills, from Windsor, Berks., added: "I've lost my husband and my best friend. Rest in peace darling."