A DEVOTED fiance who was expecting his first child was killed when his driver friend fell asleep at the wheel of a car.

James Dean Bradfield, 28, died when driver David Achurch crashed on the Thanet Way near Whitstable in October.

Mr Bradfield, of Arkley Road, Herne Bay, was thrown from the window and the vehicle landed on him.

Achurch, 31, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Canterbury Crown Court. He was bailed until his sentence on August 11 when the court will consider reports prior to sentencing.

Sandra Hendry, prosecuting, said Achurch, a railway worker, was driving home from London at 5am on October 18 with colleagues including Mr Bradfield, all of whom fell asleep soon after the journey commenced. None were wearing seatbelts.

Achurch, of Franklin Road, Canterbury, had injured himself at work three days before but was fit to return to work on October 17 and went up to London for the night shift.

He was driving along a straight stretch of road when the vehicle hit the rear of a small van being driven by Mr James Rock.

“It was a heavy impact and the van was shunted into the central crash barrier. The transit left the road and overturned throwing all the occupants around and Mr Bradfield through the window,” said Miss Hendry.

Examiners could find no defects in either vehicle and there were no highway or climate conditions that could have contributed to the crash.

“The defendant hadn’t slept for nearly 24 hours. He felt drowsy when driving but failed to alert his colleagues,” said Miss Hendry.

She said they had an unwritten rule that if the driver felt tired, he would alert the others and someone else would drive. “The defendant didn’t take steps to ensure they were wearing seatbelts”.

Gregory Fishwick, defending, said he was aware custody was almost inevitable. He said Achurch was a man of impeccable character, who felt extreme shock and remorse.

Mr Bradfield had lived with then seven-months-pregnant fiancee Rebecca Parkes. After the crash she paid tribute to her partner, saying: “I am so lucky to have known him and have his love for two years. I will miss him forever but we can all be grateful that he will live on, not only in our memories but also in his child.”

He had formerly been known as Stewart Cheesman but changed his name as a tribute to the lead singer of rock band Manic Street Preachers.