A PENSIONER has admitted causing a head-on horror smash that killed his wife and another woman on the A420.

Howard Crapper, 68, appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court this afternoon.

The former chairman of the Freemen of the City of Oxford pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving.

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Detailing the case, prosecutors said that Crapper, of Hinton Parva, Swindon, had been driving a grey Peugeot 3008 shorty before 3pm on May 6 last year on the A420 between Fyfield and Tubney.

Oxford Mail:

Crapper was driving back from Coventry with his wife, having spent the previous night at a social function with the Freemen of the City of Coventry.

While driving on the notoriously dangerous stretch of road, he failed to manage a bend, the court heard.

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His car veered into the path of an oncoming Skoda Octavia driven by 77-year old Judith Henderson, from Cobham, Surrey.

Crapper's wife Shirley, 72, died of multiple injuries at the scene, while Mrs Henderson died in hospital two days later.

Oxford Mail:

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In mitigation at the hearing, Rhodri Jones, defending, said that his client was 'remorseful' for what he had done and had no recollection of the crash and what had caused it.

The court also heard that tests for alcohol or drugs proved negative and that road visibility had been good.

District Judge Kamlesh Rana said Crapper had to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court given the seriousness of the offences and he was bailed to appear on April 11.

He was given an interim disqualification from driving in the meantime.