A teenage cyclist who collided with a mother-of-two in Old Street has denied causing her death through “wanton and furious driving”.

Charlie Alliston, 19, of Trothy Road, Bermondsey, appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey this morning.

He hit Kim Briggs as she crossed Old Street outside The Reliance pub in Shoreditch on February 12 while on her lunch break.

Paramedics and an air ambulance were called and the 44-year-old, from Lewisham, was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. She died of a head injury there two weeks later.

The court heard Alliston has been accused of bodily harm through “wanton and furious driving” for riding a “Planet X” bike without a front brake.

Prosecutor Paul Jarvis explained to the Old Bailey the charge of bodily harm had been used because “there is no homicide charge which relates to riding a bike”.

He said “the condition of the bike and its roadworthiness” would be among the main issues at stake during Alliston’s trial, set to begin in January, along with “whether it should have had a brake fitted to the front wheel”.

Alliston’s barrister said his client is expected to argue that a front brake “wouldn’t have heeded his ability to stop any quicker as he was a competent rider”.

Judge Paul Worsley QC set a trial date of January 9 and granted Alliston bail. The case is expected to last three days.

CCTV footage which shows the impact of the accident will be played as evidence.