A drink-driver has admitted causing the death of a mother as she returned home from her son's wedding.

Steven Bennie appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday and pleaded guilty to causing the death of Marie Laurie by dangerous driving.

Mrs Laurie, 57, and her husband Jamie were in a black Hackney taxi on Springboig Road in the east end of Glasgow on November 29 when it was struck by a car driven by Bennie.

The 21-year-old, of Pettigrew Street, Glasgow, was being pursued by police at the time of the fatal collision after he drove off when they approached him because he did not have a licence at the time.

He also admitted driving while over the legal limit and without insurance. He was found to have 71mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, when the limit is 50mg.

Police had spotted Bennie in a green Vauxhall Astra in Springhill Industrial Estate at around 1.30am before he fled from them on to Edinburgh Road, where the officers activated their sirens and pursued him.

Several members of Mrs Laurie's family, including her son and husband, attended court and were clearly upset as the narrative of what happened was read out.

The court heard Bennie lied to friends that he had passed his driving test but he only held a provisional licence. Prosecutor Tim Niven Smith said "at some point" he downed alcohol.

He later drove to a McDonald's restaurant before eating food with a friend at an industrial estate in Baillieston.

Police spotted him and became suspicious as it was around 1.30am before stopping to investigate Bennie's car.

When Bennie saw officers approach, he panicked and told the friend: "I've not got a licence."

Bennie immediately started the car and drove off.

Police began to pursue the young driver and clocked Bennie, who had a woman in the car with him at the time, travelling at 80mph on Edinburgh Road, where he swerved to avoid another vehicle.

The court heard the accused drove his car through a red light at the junction of Edinburgh and Springboig roads, before it crashed into the taxi Mrs Laurie and her husband had just got into.

Mrs Laurie was thrown from the window on impact and died shortly after following efforts by police and paramedics to save her.

Her husband was taken to hospital. He suffered several fractures in the crash, having been trapped in the taxi.

Bennie's passenger also suffered injuries and had to be freed from the wreckage of his car.

Lord Boyd heard Mrs Laurie was on her way home from her son Martin Colquhoun's wedding at the Lochside House Hotel in New Cumnock, East Ayrshire, when the crash happened.

He adjourned sentencing for criminal justice social work reports, while the accused was remanded in custody.

Minutes before the fatal smash, Bennie was ordered to pull over as police activated the blue lights and sounded the sirens.

He appeared to slow down but then sped off as the chase continued through the east end. The court was told he drove "well in excess" of the speed limit with his passenger reckoning he was going at 80mph.

On hearing this, one of Mrs Laurie's family in court said: "She didn't stand a chance."

Prosecutor Mr Niven Smith said Bennie's friend "repeatedly asked" to be let out but he "ignored her requests."

Bennie went on to speed through a red light and had to dodge other cars.

Prosecutor Mr Niven-Smith then said: "Just as the taxi turned into Edinburgh Road, Bennie's vehicle came across the junction through the red light and collided with the taxi."

The cab spun and smashed into a pole. Mrs Laurie was hurled through a window. Police immediately raced out to help as Bennie was stopped in his car.

Mrs Laurie was initially conscious but, minutes later, officers could not detect a pulse. She was taken to hospital but never recovered.

Bennie's lawyer John McElroy told the hearing: "For what its worth, he bitterly regrets his actions and wishes to apologises.

"He recognises the devastating effect of his actions on the night in question."

At the time of her death, Mrs Laurie's family said they had been "ripped apart".

Mrs Laurie's son, Martin Colquhoun, said outside court: "It's been a tough time, as everyone knows, since the death of my mum. We're getting to a stage now where we're getting closure for most of the family.

"Today was hard, but we're moving on and we're a very tight knit family. It has tore us apart but we'll get there and justice will be done. We'll be happy when the sentence is passed."

He also revealed the narrative in court was the first time the family had heard the full extent of what happened.

He said: "It was tough to hear the gory details. We knew some of these things were going to come out but we're a very strong family."

Asked about accused Steven Bennie, Mr Colquhoun said: "Ton be honest, the boy doesn't come into my thoughts.

"My mum isn't here and I've said it before time and time again, she could have been knocked down by a bus. She not here. His name doesn't pass my thoughts. She's gone and she's been taken."