A PENSIONER who admitted causing the death of a woman through careless driving has been given a tagging order.

Alfred Brand, 79, knocked down and killed 80-year-old Dulcie Richards while she as she crossed the road in Boglemart Street, Stevenston on April 3, 2014.

He admitted causing her death by driving without due care and attention.

Brand, of Clark Drive, pled guilty to the offence at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last month and returned to court last week for sentencing.

Peter Murray, defending, told presiding Sheriff Shirley Foran how Brand, a man with no convictions, lives with his wife and has a joint pension.

Mr Murray said Brand wanted to make it clear that he was “devastated” by the incident and expressed his remorse throughout his cooperation with the police and authorities.

He revealed that Brand has been driving for almost 60 years without any incidents or endorsements on his licence.

Mr Murray said on the date of the incident, Brand was driving in the appropriate fashion with no suggestion of speeding or shortcoming in his driving.

Brand was said to be momentarily distracted by a double-decker bus which resulted in him running over Mrs Richards.

Mr Murray told Sheriff Foran that Brand surrendered his licence to the DVLA following the incident and has no intention of driving again.

Due to the positive terms within Brand’s social work report, Mr Murray hoped Sheriff Foran give Brand a sentence that would allow him to remain in the community.

He added that Brand was even willing to do unpaid work, despite his age and health issues, stressing he would do “whatever is asked of him”.

Although she described the offence as a “grave matter”, Sheriff Foran accepted Brand’s remorse for the incident.

Brand was given a restriction of liberty order for four months.

He will be required to remain in his house between 7pm and 7am.

Brand was also disqualified from driving for five years.