A DUNFERMLINE driver on the phone and behind the wheel of a faulty car killed a frail pensioner.

William Gall ploughed into Thomas Beall shortly after the 81-year-old had left a supermarket on November 12, 2018.

The headlights of the 24-year-old's Ford Focus were not working and its battery had very low power at the time.

But Gall continued driving and eventually hit Thomas as he crossed the road in Kirkcaldy.

The OAP didn't survive after suffering brain damage as well as fractures to both legs and his pelvis.

Dad-of-three Gall now faces a lengthy jail term after he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

He will be sentenced next month.

Gall had agreed to give a friend a lift shortly before the fatal collision.

When they arrived, Gall had to charge his car's battery with the help of another man's moped.

He then headed to Kirkcaldy with two passengers before "several warning lamps" lit up on his dashboard.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Gall stated: "That's the battery playing up again."

He then called another friend while driving, putting the phone on loudspeaker.

The car's headlights soon went out, leading to warnings from other concerned motorists.

Gall, of Dunfermline, told a passenger: "I know – I've got my sidelights on."

Pensioner Thomas – who used a walking aid – had just left a local Asda store. He was at a pelican crossing around 8.30pm as Gall headed towards the area.

Gall, who worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut, again ignored another motorist's worries about his lack of lights.

One of his passengers suddenly spotted Thomas crossing the road.

Prosecutor Mark Mohammed said: "He shouted to Gall: 'William, look up', as he was looking at his dashboard and talking on his mobile phone."

Gall slammed on the brakes but hit the OAP, who was hurled into the air.

A man rushed to help and quizzed Gall on why he had no headlights on.

Gall claimed his battery was "knackered".

Thomas was rushed to hospital but never recovered.

Crash investigators later concluded the Ford's battery "was not capable of powering the vehicle". It had also been fitted with bulbs not designed to be used in such a car.

Gall had tried to fix them himself with the use of cardboard.

The lack of battery power meant the bulbs could not work properly.

Sentencing was deferred for reports.