A VAN driver asked to be locked up by a judge after he admitted causing the death of a junior Lincolnshire Army officer who had just returned to the UK after serving in Afghanistan.

Paul Mould, 26, requested to be remanded into custody after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of 23-year-old Stephanie Armsby in a road collision.

Miss Armsby, who served with the Royal Corps of Signals, based at RAF Digby and lived in Heathfield Road, Branston, died after her car was hit by Mould's van on the B1188 at Nocton Rise on Sunday, November 14 last year.

Mould, of Spring Court, Dunston, was also taken to Lincoln County Hospital with serious injuries following the crash.

He was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail.

During a five minute hearing at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday Mould entered a guilty plea to a charge of causing Miss Armsby's death by dangerous driving.

The court was told Mould had been using his mobile phone shortly before the smash but it did not contribute to the collision.

Peter Makepeace, defending, said Mould wished to be remanded into custody after the basis of his plea was agreed with the prosecution.

Mr Makepeace told the court: "Mr Mould appreciates the inevitability of the sentence the court will pass."

Judge James Sampson agreed to remand Mould into custody until he is sentenced next month after describing his request as "very realistic".

The case was adjourned for the preparation of a probation report on Mould but Judge Sampson warned him that despite entering his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity "custody was inevitable".

Judge Sampson also imposed an interim driving ban on Mould before remanding him into custody.

Mould will be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, October 25.