A MAN riddled with a brain tumour he knew nothing about, stepped into the path of an oncoming car and was killed instantly, a court has heard.

Lizzie Parry

A MAN riddled with a brain tumour he knew nothing about, stepped into the path of an oncoming car and was killed instantly, a court has heard.

Stephen Pryke, of Ipswich, a Big Issue seller, was killed when a car driven by Carl Furtado crashed into him on Hadleigh Road on Friday, May 1.

Furtado, 36, of Compair Crescent, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving at South East Magistrates Court yesterday.

Magistrates committed him to be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court at a later date to be decided by the court.

At about 2.40am on Friday, May 1, the blue VW Golf GTi driven by Furtado collided with Mr Pryke, who would have turned 40 this year, close to the entrance to Chantry Park on Hadleigh Road.

Paramedics said at the time, Mr Pryke was already dead by the time they arrived at the scene.

Shini Cooksley, prosecuting, described the “massive impact” between Furtado's car and Mr Pryke.

She explained police officers examining skid marks at the scene estimated Furtado was travelling at no less than 60mph when the legal speed limit was 30mph.

“Had he been travelling at the speed limit it is thought he (Mr Pryke) would have been able to stop,” she said.

Reading the results of a post mortem examination carried out at Ipswich Hospital, Ms Cooksley revealed Mr Pryke sustained multiple injuries but also discovered he had widespread tumours in his brain, lung and liver.

She said he was unaware of his medical condition which is likely to have impaired the cognitive functions of his brain causing him to stumble into the road.

It also emerged the braking system in Furtado's car was not working correctly though it was conceded he could not have known due to the warning light being disconnected by a previous owner.

Furtado was disqualified from driving whilst he waits to be sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court.