A DELIVERY driver has been found guilty of causing the deaths of Stoke City fan Dave Smith and a German businesswoman after they were hit by his runaway van.

The jury at Southwark Crown Court in London took less than two hours yesterday to convict Larkland May of two charges of causing death by careless driving after he parked and left the handbrake off in his van in April last year.

Mr Smith, aged 24, from Alsager, and Claudia Kauert, aged 30, were hit by the driverless vehicle as it rolled down a London street on April 24.

The 3.27-tonne Mercedes Sprinter reached a speed of 12mph as it travelled down Pudding Lane before crashing into the two pedestrians at about 1.20pm.

Former Alsager School pupil Mr Smith, who was on his lunch break, suffered "grievous" crushing to his torso and chest and was pronounced dead in hospital three hours later.

Ms Kauert, who was in the UK on a business trip, was pinned between the van and a concrete pillar and died at the scene.

The pair were caught unaware because the van's engine was turned off and they were walking with their backs to the vehicle.

Prosecutor Christopher Hehir told the court the deaths were an "accident waiting to happen".

The van was parked at the top of an incline and May, aged 52, from London, broke the Highway Code by failing to leave his van in reverse gear and by not turning the wheels towards the kerb.

He said May had also partially blocked the narrow junction into Monument Street, making it hard for other motorists to pass safely.

Mr Hehir said: "In these circumstances, it's vitally important your vehicle's handbrake is applied."

Moments after May had walked away from his van to deliver a parcel, his vehicle was accidentally nudged by a car driven by a BBC cameraman.

May had been working for stationery company Lyreco since May 2008 and was regarded as a good employee, having been promoted to 'senior driver' just weeks before the incident.

May, who pleaded not guilty, told the jury he always applied his handbrake when he parked his van. Earlier in the trial, Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on two charges of manslaughter.

May will be sentenced on October 1 and faces a minimum sentence of being disqualified from driving for one year.