THE driver of the refuse truck which crushed Sylvia Russell to death in The Shambles has appeared at court.

Nathan Beauchamp, of Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, entered no plea at Worcester Magistrates Court to a charge of causing death by careless/inconsiderate driving.

Dressed smartly in a dark suit and blue and yellow tie, the 36-year-old was told his case would be sent to Worcester Crown Court on Monday, July 13.
Beauchamp was granted unconditional bail.

The court heard the 36-year-old was at the wheel of a Smith's Waste Management of Gloucester truck when it crushed Miss Russell on Monday, September 29 at 9.15am near to Argos.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, said the 69-year-old died at the scene of multiple crash injuries to abdomen, chest and head.

Jill Crawford, for Beauchamp, said they were entering no plea because they had not received all of the prosecution's evidence including, crucially, the police investigation collision report.

Following Miss Russell's death, there was an outpouring of grief from shoppers and staff at nearby stores who lined the windows of Argos with bouquets of flowers.

Miss Russell, who was a regular Worcester News letter writer, was described as a "very kind and thoughtful person" by her friend Len Presley at her funeral in December.

Mr Presley, from Bransford, added: "I was actually asked to keep an eye on Sylvia after her mother died.

"She looked up to her mother and she went through some dark times after her death.

"I eventually became a good friend of hers and she actually spent a couple of Christmases with us. I would visit her regularly for chats."

Worcester City Council has agreed to carry out an investigation into whether vehicles should be banned for longer periods from the city's pedestrianised streets for longer.