A Romanian bodybuilder from Paddington who is accused of mowing down and killing a young landscape gardener in a £120,000 Bentley will face trial in the New Year.

George Claudiu Albu, 31, of Porchester Road, allegedly fled the scene after hitting 23 year-old Christopher Jones in Notting Hill on August 6 this year.

Mr Jones, who worked for the landscaping firm Quadron, was directing traffic around his broken down truck at the time of the collision in Pembridge Villas, it is said.

It is claimed police had spoken to Mr Jones earlier that night and were satisfied that he was wearing a high-visibility jacket and was standing in a well-lit area.

The Bentley Continental collided with Mr Jones and his vehicle at 11.50pm and he was pronounced dead at the scene at around one 1am.

Yesterday Albu appeared in Southwark Crown Court via videolink from Wormwood Scrubs sporting a white t-shirt.

He spoke only to confirm his identity and has yet to enter pleas to charges of death by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.

When asked if Albu admitted driving the luxury motor at the time of the collision Franco Fizzano, for Albu, said he ‘doubts very much it is going to be disputed’.

Albu was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and case management hearing on November 3.

A trial date has been fixed for January 25 for the case that is expected to last for four days.