Murder-accused man admits dangerous driving death

Brian Darby was killed in February

A motorist accused of a hit-and-run murder has admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Martin Breeze, 57, made the formal admission as his trial for murdering 60-year-old Brian Darby in Ingleby Barwick neared its end at Teesside Crown Court.

Prosecutors allege Mr Breeze drove his van into a group of people in revenge for them confronting his son, Shaun Breeze, although he said he lost control of the vehicle and the crash was an accident.

Mr Breeze and his 29-year-old son still both deny 11 offences including murder, manslaughter and attempted murder, and the trial continues.

The court has heard the father and son spent 9 February consuming large amounts of cocaine at their home in Owls Grove, Ingleby Barwick, and Shaun Breeze rode out on his bike at 23:00 GMT to get more.

About half an hour later he encountered a group of five people, which included Mr Darby, on a path behind the 3 Rivers bar where the party had spent the evening.

Prosecutors said the group remonstrated with Shaun Breeze after he barged into them, but he claimed he did not hit anyone and they chased him.

Martin Breeze's uninsured van was heavily damaged in the crash

He called his failed painter decorator father for help, who drove his uninsured van to the scene, picked his son up and then mounted the pavement and crashed into four people, the court has heard.

Mr Darby was killed instantly and three others, which included a 16-year-old boy, were seriously injured.

The father and son drove away and abandoned their heavily damaged vehicle before returning home and falsely reporting it stolen, the court has heard.

On the eighth day of their trial, after both the prosecution and defence had ended their evidence and ahead of their closing speeches, the charge of causing Mr Darby's death by dangerous driving was formally put to Martin Breeze in front of jurors.

He pleaded guilty and also admitted three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Martin Breeze had previously told the court he accepted he was responsible for killing Mr Darby and injuring the three others but did not mean to drive into them.

He also told jurors he had become addicted to drugs after being injured in a motorbike crash, his business was failing and his home and van were in the process of being repossessed.

The trial continues.