A YOUNG father of one broke down in tears after a jury convicted him of causing the death of a 75-year-old retired teacher by dangerous driving.

After retiring for two and a half hours they found 19-year-old John Foran, of Old Barn Estate, Newport, guilty of causing the death of Mrs Margaret Jean Lewis by dangerous driving.

He also admitted a charge of escaping from custody when he appeared before Cardiff crown court.

Judge David Wynn Morgan adjourned sentence until February 7 and Foran was remanded in custody.

He was said to have 29 previous convictions for theft and previous convictions for escaping from custody.

When the jury's verdict was given, his mother shouted, "you can't do that to him", and his partner was led from the court in tears.

Prosecutor Stephen Jeary said Mr and Mrs Lewis were on a Glyn Williams bus, travelling to their home in Cefn Court, Stow Park Circle, on May 25 after visiting a garden centre in Hereford.

Mrs Lewis was standing at the front of the bus as it approached a stop at the Handpost pub.

Foran, said Mr Jeary, was a learner driver at the wheel of his recently bought Vauxhall Calibra, and failed to stop at the junction of Stow Park Circle and Risca Road.

This forced the driver of the bus, Mr Philip Newman, to make an emergency stop.

Mrs Lewis shot forward and suffered severe head and neck injuries from which she died the following day at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

Foran admitted failing to stop at the junction but said he did not believe it constituted dangerous driving.

He claimed that there was a queue of traffic to his left and believed the bus driver would stop before entering the yellow box junction.

In evidence the driver, who has 19 years' experience, said the road ahead was clear and there was no queue of traffic.

Foran told the jury: "I considered my manoeuvre was safe."