A CAR wash worker who admitted causing the death of a popular Cwmbran butcher has avoided jail.

David Fields was critically injured after being knocked to the ground by a reversing car at a hand car wash in Llantarnam Industrial Estate in Cwmbran on June 22 this year.

The retired butcher died in hospital from further medical complications, including bleeding on the brain, five days later. He was 75.

Albanian national Sokol Muja, 27, pleaded guilty last month to causing his death by careless driving, driving without insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Muja, of Plas Ebbw in Cwmbran, appeared alongside an interpreter at Cardiff Crown Court today.

Judge Eleri Rees jailed him for 24 weeks but suspended the sentence for 18 months.

The court heard how Mr Fields had gone to the car wash on the morning of June 22 this year to get his car cleaned.

He was a regular customer at the hand car wash - which was owned by Muja's brother - the court heard.

James Wilson, prosecuting, said Mr Fields was standing and observing the other cars being cleaned when he saw a car reversing in his direction.

CCTV footage shows Mr Fields, who used a walking stick, back pedalling and holding out his hands and stick to protect himself, Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson was then struck by the Chrysler Voyager, driven by Muja who was moving the seven-seater to be cleaned at another cleaning bay.

Muja failed to see Mr Fields, who fell backwards onto the ground, hitting the back of his head on the floor.

Witnesses said Mr Fields was conscious, and talking in the aftermath of the incident, with a paramedic even saying he seemed in good spirits. But he eventually lost consciousness on July 27, and died surrounded by his family.

Mr Fields' daughter read out a statement in court on behalf of the family.

She said: "Without him we are all lost. He was, to all of us, a best friend and was loved by the community itself.

"As a family, we sat by dad's bed for nearly a week waiting for him to wake up, praying he would open his eyes, but he never did.

"A part of all of us that day died with dad. He was one in a million."

The court heard how Muja initially denied hitting Mr Fields, claiming he had fallen over. But he pleaded guilty to all charges at the earliest opportunity.

John Ryan, defending, said Muja had shown remorse and recognised the "devastation" of his actions.

Mr Ryan said the defendant worked solely in order to provide for his wife and two-year-old son, who live in Albania.

Sentencing, Judge Rees said his clean record and remorse were mitigating factors in suspending the sentence.

She said: "No sentence I give can reconcile this family or lessen their grief.

"[Muja] will have to bear the burden of guilt for this loss of life for the rest of your life."

Muja was also disqualified from driving for two years, was ordered to pay costs of £350, and told to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work.