A motorist has admitted causing the death of a former Bradford University counsellor by careless driving.

Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard how 38-year-old Dutchman Michel Vanderburgt had mistakenly driven on the wrong side of the road and crashed head on into a car carrying husband and wife Tony and Jackie Emmott in Moor Road, Ilkley, on September 16 last year.

Mrs Emmott, 67, of Ilkley, who was the passenger in the couple’s car, later died of her injuries at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The court heard Vanderburgt was on holiday with his wife and had just left a car park near the Cow and Calf Rocks to travel to Hull to stay with family.

Prosecutor Samantha Davidson told the court Vanderburgt travelled for about half a mile on the wrong side of the road before his left-hand drive Opel crashed into the Mercedes-Benz containing Mr and Mrs Emmott, at about 5.10pm.

The collision happened in heavy rain as the cars were travelling at 30mph, under the 50mph speed limit.

All three other parties involved in the crash needed hospital treatment for their injuries. Vanderburgt and his wife were released from hospital later that day. Mr Emmott is still seeing a doctor, said the prosecutor.

Vanderburgt pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by careless driving.

In mitigation, his solicitor Claire Moran told the court that Vanderburgt had mistakenly travelled on the wrong side of the road. She said: “I would submit it was not dangerous driving. Although it was on the wrong side of the road it wasn’t deliberate.”

District judge, Susan Bouch, said: “From what I’ve heard today in quite some detail I am satisfied that my sentencing powers would not be sufficient.”

She committed Vanderburgt on unconditional bail to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on May 10.

Mrs Emmott was a former West Yorkshire Police welfare officer and also worked as a counsellor at Bradford University. She had two children and four grandchildren and was known to many through her voluntary work in the district.