A PAISLEY hit and run driver is facing jail for causing the death of a woman who passed away on Christmas Day after he ran her over and drove off.

Robert Webster, 57, struck Angela McGregor, 48, on December 23 last year.

He knocked McGrego down in his Volkswagen Golf as she crossed Love Street near the junction with Wallace Street, where she lived.

McGregor was rushed to the town's Royal Alexandra Hospital following the 7.55pm collision.

But she was left so severely injured by the impact of being struck that she died in the hospital on Christmas Day.

Webster failed to stop at the scene of the accident and drove off - prompting a public appeal to trace him.

Police Scotland appealed to the public on December 26, the day after McGregor passed away, and January 21 in an attempt to track him down.

Following the appeal, Webster was charged over the death and he admitted his guilt when he appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court this week.

He pleaded guilty to breaking Sections 170(2) and (4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 by being the driver of the vehicle that struck McGregor, leaving her "so severely injured that... she died" and failing to stop and provide information.

Webster, of Paisley's Laighpark View, admitted failing to stop and give his name and address and "the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle to any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring."

After defence solicitor Paul Coyle informed Sheriff Vincent Canavan that his client was pleading guilty to the charge against him, Sheriff Canavan adjourned the case until next month.

He deferred sentence for Webster to be assessed by social workers and warned the driver he could be jailed for the offence.

The sheriff explained: "I require a DVLA print out before sentencing.

"There is a schedule of previous convictions, all of which are English. They now seem to be 25 to 30 years old.

"They are serious matters but I don't see anything which is analogous.

"I will be calling for a report given a custodial sentence is available to the court, although strictly speaking I don't require that as he has served periods of imprisonment before.

"This is an offence which carries a prison sentence of up to six months imprisonment - whether or not the court chooses to do so is another matter.

"I'm going to call for a full range of criminal justice and social enquiry reports on whether or not this is going to result in a period of imprisonment."

Mr Coyle then said he would address the court on the next occasion, explaining: "I would prefer to defer anything I have to say in mitigation."

Procurator Fiscal Depute Hazel Emmerson told Sheriff Canavan that Angela McGregor's family wished to inform the court about how her death has affected them.

The prosecutor explained: "The family of Angela McGregor are in court and, at sentencing, would appreciate the opportunity to provide a statement on the impact on them."

Sheriff Canavan replied: "Preparations will be made to enable the relatives to lodge a victim impact statement.

"The facts have not been heard, which allows any sheriff to deal with it without any unnecessary delay."

Webster will learn his fate when he returns to the dock next month.