THE widow of a man killed by a careless driver says she holds no grudge against the man behind the wheel.

Len Johnson, 65, was knocked down as he walked along Benfleet High Road in November.

The retired court usher, of Overton Drive, Benfleet, died of head injuries two days later in hospital.

The driver of the Mazda car which hit Mr Johnson was Kenneth Bush, 63, a builder who lives in Church Road, Benfleet.

He admitted causing death by careless driving when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

After the hearing, Mr Johnson’s widow, Iris, hugged him and his wife outside the court. Then she told the Echo she harboured no bad feeling against Bush or his family.

She said: “What happened was an accident. I don’t hold a grudge. That wouldn’t help or bring Len back, and it is not what he would have wanted.

“This has been a terrible experience for all of us, and I continue to pray for Mr Bush. I have found out through all this that his sons went to the same school as our sons. They are just another local family, and I hope they can soon put this all behind them.”

Iris, who was married to Len for 39 years, described him as a “happy-go-lucky man” who never had cross words with anyone.

She said fellow members of the congregation at St George’s Church had given her wonderful support, along with neighbours and even local shopkeepers.

She said Len’s main passion in life has been listening to music. He was proud of his two grown-up sons and doted on his two grandchildren.

She added: “First and foremost he was a family man, and our sons miss him terribly.

“Now I am starting to come to terms with what has happened and trying to move on.”

The court heard the accident was a “tragic mistake, which led to tragic consequences”.

But Judge Alan Saggerson told Bush he had admitted a “very serious offence”, and could give him no indication about the severity of the sentence.

Bush, who has no previous convictions, was bailed to return to the court later in the year for sentencing.