The mother of British comedy actor Michael Fenton Stevens was knocked down and killed by her own car after a rubbish truck worker tried to help her reverse it down a blocked road, a court heard.
Grandmother Olive Stevens, 88, was hit by her silver Nissan Micra, after Veolia employee Orlando Greenidge, 57, tried to help her move the car despite not having a driving licence or insurance, it is claimed.
Mrs Stevens, who grew up in Bermondsey, was travelling along the narrow lane in Orpington on November 6, 2014 when she found fly-tipped rubbish blocking her way, Croydon Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer told the court that Mrs Stevens began to reverse back along the lane until she came across a rubbish truck, which also obstructed her path.
After she explained her plight to truck driver Thomas McCulloch, his colleague Greenidge got out of the truck and attempted to reverse the automatic car, the court heard.
Ms Heer said: "He [the driver, Mr McCulloch] described hearing the sound of an engine with high revving.
"He saw the car lurching back and hitting the grass bank at the side of the lane, and then lurching forward and hitting the bank again.
"The next thing he saw was smoke coming from the car. The engine was still revving.
"He said he couldn't see who was driving the car. It was only when he got out of the cab, he saw Mrs Stevens lying on the ground clearly injured."
Paramedics rushed Mrs Stevens, a retired nurse, to King's College Hospital in south London, but she died from a serious head injury.
Greenidge, who only held a provisional driving licence, told police after the crash his foot had accidentally pressed the accelerator as he stepped into the vehicle, causing it to lurch backwards and hit Mrs Stevens.
He also denies sitting in the driver's seat and touching the steering wheel or gear stick, the court heard.
A jury of seven men and five women have been sworn in for the trial of Greenidge, who is charged with one count of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, one count of causing death by driving a vehicle without a licence and one count of causing death by driving without insurance.
Greenidge, of Erica Gardens, Croydon denies all of the charges against him.
TV star and comedian Fenton Stevens is known for his appearances in My Family and Only Fools and Horses, and had a number one single in the UK with 'The Chicken Song' from the TV series Spitting Image.
