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Hit-run driver who left boy blind is jailed
A HIT-and-run driver who left a four-year-old child blind for life and with permanent brain damage has been jailed for 16 months.
Ricky Walker already had a conviction for failing to stop after an accident when he ploughed into Tyler Jessop, who was out playing in his Spiderman outfit on February 13 this year.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Walker told police in interview that he did not hand himself in "because he wanted to get Valentine's Day out of the way first".
Walker, 25, of Spa Street, Ossett, near Wakefield, has always claimed he did not know he had hit a child. However, the court heard that the day after the incident his ex-partner rang the police and claimed he told her he knew he had knocked down someone who was wearing all blue, but did not stop because he was in a rush.
Walker admitted failing to stop after an accident, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. He also accepted he was exceeding the speed limit.
The court heard that Walker was driving his mother's Vauxhall Corsa, which was in poor condition, when Tyler ran out into the road.
Witnesses who saw him before the accident said they were shocked by his "crazy" driving.
However, accident investigators found that even if Walker had been driving under the speed limit he would not have been able to avoid Tyler, who ran out from between two parked cars in Lees Hall Road, Dewsbury.
Howard Shaw, prosecuting, said Tyler was playing with two friends at the time of the accident.
They told investigating officers that Tyler had run into the road three times before that day.
Mr Shaw said Tyler was thrown up and somersaulted through the air before landing about 25 yards away at the entrance to an alley.
His Spiderman outfit was ripped and tattered, he was bleeding and had serious injuries. He even stopped breathing for a while.
He was taken to Dewsbury District Hospital and is now making progress, despite a grim prognosis in the first few months of his ordeal.
It is now thought Tyler may be able to leave hospital before Christmas. However, he will be blind for life and has permanent brain damage.
He asks his parents why it is always dark and cannot eat unaided. He will need full-time care for the rest of his life.
In mitigation Gerald Hendron said Walker felt guilty and ashamed and wished to formally apologise to Tyler's family.
Jailing him for 16 months Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "You knew you had hit something and you knew you should have stopped. You went on for your own selfish reasons because you had no insurance.
"It was all because you were selfish and you did not want to get caught."
Speaking after the court case Tyler's mother Sonia Eggett told the Yorkshire Post that doctors had originally told her that Tyler would be in a permanent vegetative state, but he was now making some progress.
She said: "He has been in hospital for nine months and will be blind for the rest of his life – he tells us it's dark all the time – but with any luck he will be allowed to come home to us in the next few weeks.
"I know that Tyler ran into the road but what I don't understand is how Ricky Walker could have just left him for dead like he did.
"He told his mum that he thought he'd hit a dog, but you wouldn't even leave a dog for dead, would you?
"But I'm not going to waste any more time thinking about Ricky Walker. We have to move forward with our lives now and just thank God Tyler is still alive. We are hoping to have him home for Christmas, which will be the best present ever."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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