A SINGLE mum who killed a man in a car crash may have been looking at a Barbie app on her young daughter’s phone for around six seconds before the 60mph collision, a court has heard.

Bekki Mills, of Sandy Lane in Verwood, was looking down at the mobile phone held by her four-year-old when her car drifted across the carriageway on the A350 north of Blandford and collided with two oncoming cars on November 9 2015.

Joseph Willis, who was 86, was travelling in the passenger seat of the second car struck by the defendant’s Audi A4.

Both Mr Willis and his wife of 37 years, who was driving the Peugeot 308 at the time, were seriously hurt.

Doctors made the decision to take Mr Willis off life support on November 11 - the day after Mrs Willis’ birthday.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, said Mills had both her daughter and eight-month-old son in the car.

The driver of a Ford Galaxy travelling in the opposite direction to the Audi saw it drift “closer and closer” for around five or six seconds before the crash.

When police arrived at the scene, Mills, 25, told them: “It’s my fault - I was looking at my daughter’s phone.”

A victim impact statement written by Mrs Willis, who suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs, was read aloud.

“A car is a lethal weapon,” the statement read.

“Consider how you drive. Think about the consequences of your actions. It is better to arrive late than not at all.”

Mitigating, John Rogers read aloud an email written by Mills, a former care worker.

“‘Sorry’ is not a big enough word,” the defendant wrote.

“Following the accident, I have become a different person, often being consumed with inconsolable grief at the life I brought to an end.”

Mills admitted causing death by careless driving and causing death by careless driving without a licence.

Her licence was not valid at the time on a “technicality”, Mr Ellacott said.

Judge Peter Johnson said: “This on any view was a tragic incident lasting no more than 10 seconds, but leaving permanent consequences.”

He sentenced Mills, who has no previous convictions, to eight months in prison suspended for two years and a two-year driving ban.

Mills must also complete 200 hours of community service in the next 12 months and pay a victim surcharge