A wealthy businessman has admitted killing a pedestrian after slamming into him in a purple Rolls Royce.
The incident, near Buckingham Palace, saw Hassan Nasser Al-Thani, 42, hit Charles Roberts, 66, at almost double the 30mph speed limit, reports say.
Mr Roberts died at the scene in Duke of Wellington Place, central London, on August 22, 2019.
Al-Thani had previously denied causing death by careless driving after appearing via video-link from his native Qatar.
But on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to the charge at the Old Bailey, where he avoided a jail term.
He was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Al-Thani had called 999 and told police at the scene that he had not seen the pedestrian, having moved off when traffic lights had turned green.
Having been stopped at traffic lights, the defendant had accelerated away at speeds of up to 54 mph before braking as he approached the victim, the court heard.
Al-Thani was said to be ‘incredulous’ that anyone would cross the road there.
Later in a prepared statement, he expressed sadness at the death and offered his condolences to Mr Roberts’ family and friends.
He said he was a very careful driver and it was the first collision he had been involved in.
Sentencing, Judge Richard Marks QC said Al-Thani was driving near Hyde Park Corner, having been out to dinner with a friend.
Judge Marks said: ‘I am entirely satisfied from the evidence that if you had been driving at or within the speed limit his death would have been avoided.’
He continued: ‘You were to tell the police – clearly incorrectly – that you had moved off slowly from the lights when suddenly and without warning someone ran out in front of your car. The evidence tells a very different story.
‘Shortly prior to the impact you were driving at a speed that was not far short of twice the legal limit and therein, in my judgment, lies the seriousness of this offence.’
Al-Thani saw Mr Roberts ‘very late’ and the only explanation was that he was ‘simply not paying attention’, the judge added.
A statement read on behalf of the victim’s family outlined the devastation of Mr Roberts’ brother.
The family said: ‘It is a relief to him the driver responsible is to be held to account.’
Al-Thani was the registered owner of the Rolls Royce Wraith, with Qatari number plates, which had its windscreen smashed and front headlight damaged in the crash.
The defendant had been driving the car from Piccadilly accompanied by a friend when he collided with Mr Roberts, a retired Network Rail signalling manager from Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
The collision was captured on CCTV cameras, including the moment of impact.
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