A GRAYS man has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving after a collision in the town last year.

Billy Howard-Smith, 26, of Heathview Road, Grays, was charged with causing death by careless driving while over the proscribed limit for drugs and possession of a Class B drug after the collision in Lodge Lane on the evening of 21 April 2025.

Howard-Smith was reversing a van and struck 72-year-old pedestrian Roy Hibbert, who died in hospital on 21 June 2025.

Howard-Smith was arrested at the scene and, following an extensive investigation by Essex Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit was charged in June 2026.

Blood tests showed he had a chemical by-product in his system which indicated he had previously taken cocaine. He was over the limit for the by-product in his blood.

He pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court on Friday, 21 August and will return to the same court for sentencing on 18 November. He remains on court bail until then.

Investigating Detective Richard March said: "This plea was the result of a year's work to ensure the case before the court was as clear as possible.

"I hope this sad incident shows haw dangerous drug driving is and that it can contribute to you facing a prison sentence, even if you think it is no longer in your system.

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"Every fatal collision is a tragedy which is why we are working so hard to bring these incidents down to zero as quickly as we can.

"We've remained in contact with Roy's family throughout this process and they've been supported through this incredibly difficult time."

The blood test result showed Howard-Smith had no less than 753ug/l (micrograms per litre of blood) of Benzoylecgonine, which is a chemical that forms as cocaine breaks down in your body.

The limit for Benzoylecgonine is 50ug/l.

The test did not show he had cocaine in his system at the time of the collision.