A LAWYER who killed a college lecturer after she hit him with her car in rush hour traffic has been handed a community payback order.

Liana Di Ciacca, 30, was driving through Uddingston, Lanarkshire, when she collided with Joe Leitch, 79, as he crossed a street.

She drove at up to 40mph in a 30mph zone and struck the pensioner with her black Ford Kuga after he had stepped off a bus.

Mr Leitch was rushed to hospital suffering from head and chest injuries following the incident on October 29, 2012, but died later that day.

Yesterday, Di Ciacca, a commercial property solicitor with a Glasgow law firm, was given 200 hours of unpaid work and banned from the road for two years.

The mother-of-one, of Bothwell, had earlier admitted driving without due care and attention and hitting Mr Leitch.

Defence advocate Barry Smith told Hamilton Sheriff Court: "My client is a responsible and productive member of society.

"She has struggled to cope with the accident. It has affected her health and every aspect of her life.

"She expresses genuine remorse into what her actions have caused for Mr Leitch and his family."

Retired lecturer Mr Leitch had lived in Uddingston before moving to nearby Bothwell three years before his death. He taught maths at Coatbridge College and also did voluntary tutoring.

He was a keen golfer and a member of Bothwell Golf Club. He and his late wife Cathie were members of Uddingston Baptist Church.

Sheriff Joyce Powrie also ordered Di Ciacca to re-sit her test when her ban was served.