A court has heard how a Bromley woman rammed a “frail” man with her shopping trolley days before Christmas, leading to his death.

Melanie Buck, 33, denies manslaughter and grievous bodily harm (GBH), after 60-year-old Michael Buckley died following an “altercation” in The Glades.

Buck, of Chelford Road, is accused of ramming Mr Buckley with her shopping trolley at Marks and Spencer's on December 22 in 2013.

Prosecuting today (April 7) David Howker QC said: “There was something of a gridlock in the aisle and the defendant could not get past him.

"There may have been a clash between his basket and her trolley and a few words exchanged, the upshot was Miss Buck probably out of a sense of frustration deliberately rammed Mr Buckley with her trolley.

“The effect of that was to knock him to the floor.

“Store assistants went to his aid and his first reaction, first spoken reaction, was to say to one of the assistants in store ‘she rammed me’.”

Buck attempted to leave the store immediately after but was stopped by staff.

She told police after her arrest Mr Buckley’s basket was bumping her legs.

Buck maintains it was an accident and she hit him as she was trying to squeeze past him.

MORE TOP STORIES The court heard how Mr Buckley, from Forest Hill, was doing some last minute shopping before meeting his nephew Eric Hyde on Christmas Eve.

Living alone since the death of his wife, the jury was shown CCTV of the deceased, who had diabetes and had suffered a heart attack.

Mr Howker said: "He wasn't in good health.

"He was hard of hearing, he wore a hearing aid. His appearance was that of a man considerably older than his years.

"He was quite small, five foot five and quite frail, and he had a shattered kneecap a few years earlier which slowed him down a bit."

Mr Buckley suffered a broken leg and wrist and was taken to the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough for an operation.

Initially it was thought a success but his condition worsened on Christmas Day.

Mr Howker added: "He suffered water in the lungs, a shortness of breath and most likely suffered a heart attack.

“On the 27th [of December] he went into cardiogenic shock. His organs were not getting enough blood or oxygen.

“His heart was failing and he continued to deteriorate. He was put on a ventilator and remained in intensive care on a ventilator until the 5th of March.

“The machine was effectively switched off. He died."

The court heard when Mr Hyde went to see his uncle on Christmas Eve as arranged, he became alarmed when he was not in and tracked him down to the hospital.

The trial continues.