THE man who has admitted causing the death of an 11-year-old girl in Radcliffe by careless driving hit speeds of nearly 100mph on the motorway six months after the incident, a court has been told.

Andrew Cairns collided with Ruby Cropper on New Road in August, 2020. She died as a result of her injuries.

The 36-year-old, from Rupert Street in Radcliffe, denies causing her death by dangerous driving and is on trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Cairns has admitted to causing the death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of the accident.

And yesterday the court heard he has other convictions for motoring offences.

Prosecutor Jamie Baxter said in February, 2021, around six months after the fatal incident, he drove on the M62 westbound at 98 miles per hour.

As well as this in January, 2017 he drove a Honda Civic which flipped onto its roof.

Cairns fled the scene and was found hiding by officers in a nearby garden.

He was breathalysed and found to be twice over the drink driving limit.

In his closing speech for the prosecution, Mr Baxter said it would be wrong for the jury to say these convictions prove guilt, but said they speak the “credibility” of Cairns.

Giving evidence last week Cairns claimed he was a “careful and competent driver.”

During the course of the trial police sergeant Laura Drew, a collision investigator from GMP, said the car had been caught on camera eight metres on from the collision going at 38mph.

She said there were two possibilities, either Cairns had driven at a consistent speed meaning the collision took place when he was going at 38mph, or he had applied heavy braking meaning he was going at 44mph at the time of impact.

In his closing speech for Cairns, defence counsel Michael Johnson pointed to what was known about the driving.

He said it was known Cairns was going at a speed over 30mph and that he swerved his vehicle.

He said: “That leaves gaps that need to be filled.”

“I submit after consideration that the other evidence cannot safely and surely take you to the factual conclusion that the prosecution urge upon you.”

He urged the jury to conclude that Cairns did not brake.

Mr Johnson said: “What evidence is there about where braking began or how forceful it was? There isn’t any.

“There is no evidence to go off about where it began.

“Even if you are sure there was braking there is a void of detail.”

The trial, before Judge Timothy Smith, will resume on Wednesday.