A MOTORIST has appeared in court charged with causing the death of Worcester grandfather Christopher Willmott.

Tributes continue to flood in for Mr Willmott who died after being hit by a car in Blackpole on Friday.

Yesterday Helder Dasilva Pina appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court charged with death by dangerous driving.

Pina, of Brook Street, Barbourne, has been held in cells since the accident at 1.10am on Friday in Cotswold Way, Blackpole.

The 34-year-old, who is originally from Portugal, was driving a Peugeot 206 towards Blackpole Road after leaving work at Worcester Bosch when he is said to have lost control of his car and hit Mr Willmott before colliding with a lamppost in front of Ford Bristol Street Motors.

Mr Willmott, aged 48, had been on a night fishing trip with friends and was waiting to be picked up by a taxi.

Mark Johnson, prosecuting, said: “He is with a group of friends, some as young as seven.

“It was only because of the quick thinking of persons at the scene that actually managed to get some of the people out of the way.”

Mark Stanley, defending, said Pina had lived in the UK for around two-and-a-half years, working first at a nightclub and as a cleaner and for the last 14 months at Worcester Bosch.

He said Pina lived with his young wife and three-and-a-half month old daughter.

“Clearly he is upset,” said Mr Stanley.

“He was crying at the scene. He called the police and the ambulance.

“The man has shown nothing but remorse from the moment he was arrested.”

He also said Pina, a devout Catholic, had no intention of getting behind the wheel of a car again.

The case will now go to Worcester Crown Court on November 24. Pina was granted bail until the trial.

Paul Vaughan, chairman of the bench, said: “This is a tragic matter.”

After granting bail he added: “We wish to express our sympathy to the family of the deceased.”

Throughout the day memories of Mr Willmott, a father of three and grandfather to six, were being left on a tribute page on Facebook, RIP Chrissy Willmott.

One post on the page read: “We all love you so, so much daddy. Not a second goes by we aren’t thinking about you. Trying to stay strong for the kids like you would have wanted, but all I want to do is break down and cry.

“Missing you more than words can explain.”

Other posts remembered the funny times: “You were always the joker Dad. Never normal. Just loved messing around and winding people up.”

It continued: “But one thing that never stopped is the love we had four each other.

“You always told everyone how much you loved your kids and we knew because whenever you rang, before we hung up, we would say ‘love you’ about five times, cuddle and kiss us before you go home and tell us how much you loved us and we will keep that with us forever Dad.”

A comment on the page from his brother, Dave Willmott‎, said:

“I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to write so many kind words for my brother.

“It means so much to me and all the family ...... thank you xxx”
Karen Willmott‎, who spent 30 years with Mr Willmott, said: “I really can’t get my head around what has happened. R.I.P.

“You were a very special man to many. I promise to take good care of our children and grandchildren..xx”

A statement released on behalf of the family also thanked Worcester News readers for their kind and compassionate comments.

They added: “At present, all family members are being inundated with messages of condolence.

“Although they are all grateful for this, this is however very upsetting and very hard to deal with at this time.

“Therefore the the family urge the heartfelt stories are left on the Facebook page as a tribute and lasting legacy.”