RAIL crash trucker Robert Mortimer has pleaded guilty to a total of 18 tachograph offences relating to his driving patterns and methods.The 47-year-old lorry driver, who lives in Brantham, appeared before magistrates in Colchester to plead guilty to the offences.

RAIL crash trucker Robert Mortimer has pleaded guilty to a total of 18 tachograph offences relating to his driving patterns and methods.

The 47-year-old lorry driver, who lives in Brantham, appeared before magistrates in Colchester to plead guilty to the offences.

Mortimer is yet to enter pleas on two additional charges of careless driving and driving with a dangerous load. The alleged offences directly relate to a collision between a lorry, which was being driven by Mortimer, and a freight train at around 5.25am on July 1 last year.

The incident happened when the lorry crashed into the parapet of a bridge, on the A137 between Lawford and Ardleigh, and toppled 40 feet down a bank and on to the track. Seconds later, it was hit by a London-bound freight train, plunging rail travel into chaos for the day.

The incident left Mortimer with pelvic injuries that require regular physiotherapy sessions to treat. He appeared in court yesterday aided by a walking stick.

Of the 18 tachograph-related charges, 16 of them apply to driving an S-registered articulated lorry with a speed limiter that did not comply with appropriate regulations.

The two other charges relate to driving for too long without a break. On June 19, at Manningtree, Mortimer drove his lorry without a rest period of at least nine consecutive hours. On June 28, also at Manningtree, Mortimer drove his lorry for a period of four-and-a-half hours without a 45-minute break.

He is due to be sentenced for the offences, which all occurred in Manningtree between June 11 and June 29 last year, on March 21.

He was released on unconditional bail and will reappear before magistrates in Colchester on March 21.