A lorry driver was using his phone for more than 30 minutes before pallets from his vehicle fell off and struck a woman, a court heard.

Slawomir Kotlowski, 41, was driving on the A35 westbound in Lyndhurst when several paving slabs fell off the back of the vehicle.

Pedestrian Chloe Evans was struck by the slabs while she was out walking on her lunch break.

She suffered life-changing injuries, but Kotlowski denies causing serious injury by careless driving.

Opening the trial at Southampton Crown Court, prosecutor Matthew Lawson said the defendant failed to notice warnings given by a driver travelling in a vehicle behind him.

The scene in Lyndhurst in October 2022The scene in Lyndhurst in October 2022 (Image: Newsquest) He told the court that Kotlowski was on a near 34-minute phone call when the incident happened and made an additional six calls during that time using a Bluetooth earpiece.

Robert Dilworth was driving behind the defendant when he saw the pallets were loose.

Mr Dilworth told the jury how he remarked to his colleague Leon Palmer, who was in the van, that the “straps don’t look like they should be on like that”.

Giving evidence, he said: “The strap came off and I said to Leon, 'I have got to stop that lorry'.

"I said 'someone is going to get killed in Lyndhurst'.

"I decided to try and stop the lorry, tooting my horn and flashing my lights, as I tried to get alongside.

"There was no reaction from the lorry as I was doing it.”

The court heard how Mr Dilworth attempted to drive alongside Kotlowski for a second time as they approached Lyndhurst but was unsuccessful.

He said: "I managed to get halfway along the side of the lorry but had to pull back as there were cars coming the other direction.

"We noticed the blocks started moving again, so every chance we got we went in the outside lane, and I tooted my horn and flashed my lights.

"I do not know how many times I did that; we were just at panic stations."

As both drivers reached the high street in Lyndhurst, Mr Dilworth said the pallets of slabs came off the trailer on the lorry as it rounded a bend.

The slabs then fell on pedestrian Chloe Evans.

Mr Dilworth added: "The lorry stopped, and I jumped out and started pulling blocks off the girl.

"I said to the driver 'didn't you see me? I have been trying to stop you for the last two miles.'

"I was in shock."

The trial continues.