A freerunner from Ealing who once performed stunts outside 10 Downing Street has admitted killing a pedestrian who was thrown a distance of 150ft after speeding in his car.

Karol Michta, 22, of Conway Crescent, Perivale, ploughed into Henrik Luszcz, 53, catapulting him into the air "to the height of a double decker bus" as he crossed Great West Road in Isleworth , on May 17, 2015, the Old Bailey heard on Friday (February 3).

A witness described Michta as driving his powerful Mazda MX5 "way too fast" as he tried to catch up with a black Mercedes, the court heard.

One witness said to his passenger: "Look how fast he's driving. Idiot."

Around 400m before the collision, Michta overtook in the fast lane before careering into the middle lane, forcing another car to swerve out of the way, it was heard.

Mr Luszcz had just got off a from a bus after a night out with friends and was on his way home when he was hit.

Michta was doing 60mph in 40mph zone when he smashed into Mr Luszcz without braking, it was heard.

And Mr Luszcz was tossed a distance of around 150 feet and suffered catastrophic injuries, before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutor, Joel Smith, said: "Having crossed to the central reservation, he (Mr Luszcz) was struck by the defendant's car and was thrown to the height of 'a double decker bus' according to one witness, and his body was thrown 45m from the point of collision.

"The defendant stopped and remained at the scene. He said he saw a dark figure run out into the middle of the road."

Michta said: "I was braking and I had both feet on the brakes. I felt the ABS coming on and there was a big bang and everything was over."

But investigators found he had not touched the brakes.

In his police interview Michta denied knowing the owner of the black Mercedes and denied racing him, and then answered "no comment" to all other questions.

Michta later admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Luszcz's daughter said that her father had moved to the UK to earn money in order to buy some land in his native Poland.

His wife Regina had stayed behind to look after their grandchildren, but visited him regularly.

Miss Luszcz, 23, said her mother had taken the loss very badly and is currently undergoing therapy and in medication to try and cope with her grief.

She said: "The driver destroyed my life.

"I've not been able to move on or do anything with this hanging over my family and myself.

"The circumstances are often in my mind and it makes me so unhappy."

Simon Baker, defending Michta, said: "He will have to live with this for the rest of his life.

"He knows and is haunted by the fact that had he been driving more slowly, even if the accident couldn't have been avoided, all together there is a real prospect that Mr Luszcz could have survived and would be alive today.

"He's asked me to express his deepest sympathy and remorse to his family."

Michta is two years into a mechanical engineering degree at Queen Mary's University in east London.

He had been undergoing therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, Mr Baker said, and is suffering from "a real case of survivor's guilt".

Judge Anthony Morris QC adjourned his sentencing hearing until 10 February to get more information on whether Michta would lose his place on his course if he were to be sent to prison.

He also requested more information on his mental health.

In 2011 Michta and some of his gravity defying friends performed both in and outside the Prime Minister's home to celebrate Parkour being officially recognised as a sport in the UK.

Michta is due for sentencing on Friday (February 10).

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