A driver with only a provisional licence lost control of his car on a bend and demolished a telegraph pole, killing his passenger, a court heard.

Anthony Grimmond, who had traces of cannabis in his blood, later claimed he had swerved to avoid an animal that ran across the road late at night, and in his panic he hit the accelerator instead of the brakes.

The victim was his fiancee’s 20-year-old sister Leanna Culver. He told police she had wanted to talk to him that evening, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court was told.

“She had been diagnosed with heart problems and had only been given 18 months to live,” said prosecutor Rowan Jenkins.

Grimmond, 27, told a police officer in the early hours of March 16 last year: “So, you never realise you are going to have a crash until it happens do you?

“It was my sister-in-law in that car. You know she was only given 18 months to live yesterday? I took her life yesterday.”

Mr Jenkins said Grimmond had mental health problems and the day before he had taken an overdose of antidepressant tablets in a suicide attempt.

“This, perhaps, gives an insight into his mental fragility at the time,” said Mr Jenkins. “He said he had smoked a single cannabis joint very early that day when he went driving.”

Grimmond, of Homemead Close, Gravesend, denies causing death by dangerous driving, but accepts his careless driving killed the young mother.

Mr Jenkins said Grimmond had bought his 16-year-old automatic Renault Clio for £270 two weeks before the fatal crash in Henhurst Road, Cobham, on March 15.

Grimmond said Miss Culver had asked if they could go for a drive and they decided to go and see a friend in Meopham. After they left the friend’s home at about 11pm he headed back to Miss Culver’s home.

He said he sped up a bit as he approached the bend, which he described as “blind”, on the 60mph road. He was doing about 35mph and started to slow down.

Mr Jenkins said Grimmond later gave a different speed, saying he was doing about 10mph as he went round the bend.

It was then, he claimed, that something ran across the road in front of him. He swerved to try to avoid it and hit the accelerator instead of the brakes.

He thought something went wrong with the steering and hit the verge. “No matter what I tried to do, I just couldn’t get control,” he said.

The prosecutor told jurors: “You get the picture of somebody who should not have been driving in the first place.

“He was clearly not experienced enough to drive and deal with hazards and didn’t possess the necessary qualifications and chose to go out and drive.”

An ambulance was called but Miss Culver died at the scene. Grimmond was treated in hospital for a head injury.

Mr Jenkins said Grimmond lost control of the car on the “relatively gentle” left-hand bend. The car rotated and slid across the road before mounting the nearside bank.

It started to overturn and after breaking the telegraph pole in half, it ended up on its roof.

“The Crown’s case, simply put, is this man should never have been driving the car in the first place, and he knew it,” said Mr Jenkins. “He never passed his full driving test. He only held a provisional driving licence.”

Grimmond said he had only had 10 lessons in a manual car. He used to drive an automatic car for a friend, taking him shopping.

He knew he had to be accompanied by a person over 21 with a full licence for three years, said Mr Jenkins. Miss Culver did not have that qualification.

“He also knew he was not, therefore, insured to drive this car either,” he added.

An accident expert found there were no marks on the road to support the contention the car approached the bend too fast. There were no mechanical defects.

“The prosecution say you can be sure this defendant caused the death of this lady while driving dangerously. He admits his driving was careless,” Mr Jenkins continued.

“He also accepts it was his driving that caused the death of Leanna. Your role is the standard of his driving – whether it was dangerous.

“He over-steered and instead of putting his foot on the brake, he whacks his foot on the accelerator and loses control.”

PC Simon Masterson said Grimmond asked him at the scene of the accident: “Is she dead?” The officer replied: “Yes, I am afraid she is.”

A saliva test for drugs indicated the presence of cannabis, but a blood sample indicated a level below the statutory limit.

The trial continues.