A motorist involved in Oxford's Eastern Bypass crash in which four people were killed was a banned drink driver and gave a false name to avoid prosecution, a court has heard.

Vincent Oweka, 26, of Nowell Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and conspiring to pervert the course of justice at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard Oweka was under a drink-drive ban when the Audi 80 car he was driving crashed into debris on the bypass on May 28.

When stopped by police he gave false details claiming to be Chua Mony-Oruma Otunno, 38, of Southfield Park, Oxford.

Rachael Edmund, 31, of Camden Close, Witney, also admitted conspiring to pervert the course of justice by signing two police statements falsely claiming Otunno was the driver involved.

Mr Otunno is accused of giving false statements to the police claiming to be the driver but has denied the charge and also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The court was told Oweka, Edmund and Otunno conspired together to give false details to the police between May 1 and June 18, 2005.

Tony McGeorge, prosecuting, said: "It has never been suggested that Mr Oweka is responsible for the death of any of those in the accident.

"He arrived after the crash between the vehicles and ran into debris, as did a driver coming in the other direction."

Judge Anthony King said: "Rachael Edmund and Vincent Oweka will receive the appropriate credit in sentencing for entering an early guilty plea."

Motorist Howard Hillsdon, 21, of Yarnton, Liam Hastings, 13, of Rose Hill, Marshall Haynes, 13, of Greater Leys and Josh Bartlett, 13, of Blackbird Leys all died in the crash on May 28, when a Citroen Saxo veered across the central reservation barrier into oncoming traffic.

Sentencing of both Oweka and Edmund has been deferred until the trial of Chua Mony-Oruma Otunno has been heard next month.