A MAN behind the wheel of a car which crashed and killed a 22-year-old woman had taken a cocktail of drugs.

John Bond arrived at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday expecting to be sentenced after admitting causing the death of Mischa Bond by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.

But it was unclear how Bond's driving had been impaired by metabolised cocaine so sentencing was adjourned until next month.

Matt Morgan, mitigating, told the court Bond, 31, was 25 per cent over the legal limit of cocaine on January 13, 2016.

He also had 2.5 times the legal amount of cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine, in his blood.

Bond also had Diazepam and cannabis in his system.

Mr Morgan said: “In particular, knowing that taking a line of cocaine has an immediate effect and then has what could be described as a tailing half life, we don’t know whether or not an expert might need to comment on the peculiar mixture.”

The crash which killed Miss Bond happened at the junction of Tolleshunt Darcy Road and Mill Lane, in Tolleshunt Major, involving a Mercedes and Ford Transit.

The court also heard there were passengers who were not wearing seatbelts.

An expert had concluded Bond was travelling at between 25mph and 30mph as he left the junction.

Alan Compton, prosecuting, added: “He pulled out in front of the driver who had no opportunity to react.”

Judge Pugh said: “Bond challenges he was driving at excess speed and secondly, suggested his speed as he passed two junctions didn’t exceed 10mph.

“That seems to be totally contradicted by other evidence, namely Perry Miles-Anderson, who says the defendant was travelling at such a speed during the journey he was saying to the defendant to slow down on occasions.

“Secondly, forensic analysis and reconstruction suggested the speed as the van passed the T-junction was between 25 and 30pmh. That would make a significant difference to the [offence] category.”

Bond, of Perry Road, Tiptree, was granted unconditional bail.