A man admitted killing a 21-year-old woman when he drove the wrong way up a major road in a stolen van and crashed head-on into an Uber cab.

Ashley Loveday, 38, was at the wheel of a Peugeot Boxer van when the collision happened on the A13 near Rainham early on November 25 last year.

Grace Payne, 21, a passenger in the Toyota Prius Uber car, was killed in the collision.

The driver of the Uber, Sunder Ali, 59, was seriously injured but survived.

University graduate Ms Payne was said to be working at an architecture firm and had been on her way home to Upminster after a night out with colleagues.

On Wednesday, Loveday appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey.

He pleaded guilty to causing Ms Payne’s death and causing serious injury to Mr Ali by his dangerous driving on the A1306, Marsh Way, and A13.

Loveday, from Avondale Road, Canning Town, east London, also admitted aggravated vehicle taking of the van on or before November 22 last year.

Judge Alexia Durran ordered a probation report to focus on the issue of how dangerous Loveday was to the public.

The facts of what happened were not aired during the hearing but it was confirmed they would not be disputed by the defendant.

Loveday was remanded in custody until the sentencing on March 9.

Judge Durran told him to expect a “custodial sentence of some length”.

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