A DRIVER extradited from the Czech Republic has admitted killing a motorcyclist by careless driving on a North Yorkshire country road.
But Zdenek Pulko’s sentencing had to be delayed because the family of the deceased, Ian Stewart, 63,were sent to the wrong crown court.
The 27-year-old Czech fled abroad after he was questioned by police over the crash near Sherburn-in-Elmet on October 18, 2018.
In November 2019,North Yorkshire detectives flew to Prague and brought him back to the country where he has remained in custody ever since.
Pulko was due to stand trial this month.
But in front of the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, he changed his plea and pleaded guilty to causing Mr Stewart’s death by careless driving on Coldhill Lane, Sherburn-in-Elmet, .
He also admitted stealing a finance company’s car in November 2018 shortly before he left the country.
Court staff at Leeds Crown Court arranged a special video link for the family of Mr Stewart of Wakefield to Bradford Crown Court, where York Crown Court is currently sitting while its own building is completely closed.
But at the entrance to Leeds Crown Court, the family was told to go to Bradford Crown Court - which is currently closed to the public. The judge adjourned sentence until Thursday so that the family could attend the hearing virtually.
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