A FORTY-seven-year-old north Cumbrian man has appeared before a court to face a charge that caused the death of a 13-year-old girl by dangerous driving.

A lawyer acting for Tony Packenham, of Station Hill, Wigton, told District judge Gerald Chalk at Carlisle's Rickergate court that the defendant would admit the allegation, and also admit causing serious injury to both the mother and the 15-year-old sister of schoolgirl Ingrid Messenger through dangerous driving.

The defendant will also enter a guilty plea to the fourth charge: committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice - namely discarding a dashcam memory card which may have been of use to the investigation of the fatal crash at Broadfield Common, near Ivegill, said Packenham's defence lawyer Joseph Chaminais.

"There will be guilty pleas to all matters," said the lawyer.

Judge Chalk said: "I understand it's likely to be guilty pleas and I will ask the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report."

The road where the fatal crash happened - on February 18 last year - was the C1036.

At the time of the fatal accident, court papers show, the defendant was driving a Land Rover Discovery.

District Judge Gerald Chalk sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on December 18.

After the tragedy, Ingrid's heartbroken family issued a tribute, saying: "Ingrid was a beautiful and happy sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin and a friend to many," her family said in a statement.

"She was polite and full of vitality with a "give it a go" attitude and fun to be in the company of. She had a very bright future ahead of her."

The defendant spoke only to confirm his details. He was granted unconditional bail.