A DELIVERY driver from Greenock who caused the death of a pensioner in a head-on crash was yesterday jailed for three years.

John Dale, 43, a dad-of-three, was told by Judge Lord Mulholland that he had 'shattered the lives' of 67-year-old retired social worker Mary Fulton's family.

Describing the victim impact statement from them as 'heart-wrenching', Lord Mulholland disqualified Dale from driving for 10 years.

He told him: “You drove your HGV erratically for 500 metres and 28 seconds.

"You are entirely to blame.

“You have visited a life sentence of loss and grief on Mary Fulton's family and you will have to live with that for the rest of your life.”

Dale's delivery lorry ploughed into Mrs Fulton's Skoda on the A77 near Girvan in Ayrshire in November 2017.

Seconds earlier he had clipped another car.

Dale admitted causing Mary's death by dangerous driving.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Dale's vehicle had drifted onto the wrong side of the road and people in the car behind him thought he was asleep.

Mary, who was a grandmother, died at the scene from her injuries and the court heard that Dale rushed over to try to help her.

Dale already has motoring a conviction for careless and drink driving, from 2010 when he drove into a wall.

In the fatal accident, he initially collided with a car driven by an 85-year-old woman.

Advocate depute Greg Farrell said that seconds later, Dale's Mercedes HGV hit Mary's vehicle.

He and other motorists rushed out to help but it soon became clear the gran was already dead.

Dale, found to be 'in shock and hyper-ventilating' went on to tell another driver: “I did not see her.”

Advocate Euan Dow, defending, said: “It is Mr Dale's belief that he was unconscious in the seconds before the accident.

“He became aware that something was wrong when he heard what sounded like an explosion.”

Mr Dow said that at first Dale thought his lorry had blown up and went on: “It was only when he got out his vehicle he realised there had been a collision.”

The advocate added: “Mr Dale has been diagnosed with post trauma stress syndrome and has repeatedly expressed remorse.

"He suffers from flashbacks and has difficulty sleeping.”

The court heard potential factors – such as being asleep at the wheel or using a mobile – had been discounted.

Checks also been made to find out if Dale had an undiagnosed medical condition, but this was also ruled out.