A DRIVER has admitted responsibility for the death of an 88-year-old woman in a crash and carrying out an insurance fraud afterwards.

Billie-Jo Robson, 44, was at the wheel of a blue Ford Focus C-MAX when it collided with a silver Skoda Fabia on the A166 at Gate Helmsley.

Mary Elstob, 88, who was a front seat passenger in the Fabia, was badly injured and died three days later at Leeds General Infirmary. She and a 62-year-old woman had to be rescued from the car by firefighters.

York Crown Court heard that following the crash, Robson and her partner Michaela Anne Alberta Gray, 40, submitted an insurance claim saying that Gray had been the driver when the collision occurred at 11.15am on April 9 last year.

Robson herself did not have insurance or a valid driving licence.

Both women appeared together in the dock at York Crown Court and pleaded guilty to the charges they faced.

Judge Jacqueline Davies adjourned sentence for probation officers to prepare reports and warned them: "You have both pleaded guilty to very serious offences which almost inevitably will lead to a custodial sentence."

Robson, of Wayside Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing the death of Ms Elstob - by inconsiderate driving, while driving without insurance and while driving without a valid driving licence.

She and Gray, of Havelock Place, Bridlington, both admitted perverting the course of justice between April 9 and July 30 by falsely claiming that Gray was driving the Ford car, and fraud by giving false details to an insurance company between the same dates.

Robson admitted unrelated charges of possessing amphetamine with intent to supply it to others and possessing cannabis and diazepam for her own use.

Both women were released on bail and will return to court for sentencing on March 17. Robson was given an interim driving ban until then, when she will learn how long she must be off the road.

The A166 was closed for six hours after the crash.