A JUDGE gasped in horror on seeing video footage of a Llangadog motorist nipping in front of a passenger train.

The film showed the train almost on the crossing before Christopher Griffiths' Vauxhall Corsa suddenly shot across.

After talks with his barrister Griffiths, 43, of Walters Road, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Creighton Harvey, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how CCTV cameras caught Griffiths, a plant operator, shooting the lights at the crossing in Station Road on July 14.

He had two passengers in his car and appeared not to notice the train. Even after the incident he seemed not to realise what had happened.

Mr Harvey said there was no barrier across the road but there were flashing red lights and a car approaching from the other direction had stopped.

Griffiths' barrister, Chris Clee, said a strong argument would be put forward by the defence that he should not be banned from driving.

Mr Clee said the crossing was dangerous and local community councillors had raised concerns.

He said the position of the sun affected the ability of a driver to see the lights were flashing and, on July 14, Griffiths was unaware of the danger he was in.

Judge John Diehl agreed to postpone sentencing to allow probation officers to prepare a report into Griffiths' background.

Normally, a court would impose a driving ban the moment a defendant entered a plea of guilty to dangeroud driving.

However, said the judge, because the defence intended to put forward "special reasons" for not banning Griffiths at all he would not impose a temporary ban.

Griffiths was granted bail and will be sentenced next month.