30 months for speeding teen who left boy, 10, dying in the street - then his friends hurl abuse at grieving parents

John Smith was just 17 when he ploughed a Ford Transit travelling at 47mph in a 30mph zone and accompanied by "thumping music" - into

Sean Hamilton, who was returning from a cinema trip, in front of his sister and two friends.

But despite knowing he had hit the boy and dragged him beneath his wheels, Smith glanced at his prone body before making off on foot with his two passengers.

Witnesses, including Sean's shocked sister Stephanie, 12, ran to his

aid while Smith jumped over a garden wall to escape - "compounding" the grief of the Hamilton family, York Crown Court heard.

One of the occupants was heard to shout "leg it" as they fled the scene.

The schoolboy was pronounced dead hours later in hospital, but Smith did not give himself up until the next day, telling officers he "couldn't face the music last night".

Today, after Smith was sentenced to 30 months in a Young Offenders Institution, Sean's family - who were praised by the judge for acting with dignity throughout proceedings - faced a barrage of abuse from 30 of Smith's supporters.

One shouted, "You should have been looking after your kid - disgusting", and laughed while parents Ronnie and Sharon spoke of their

terrible loss to waiting media.

The heckling continued as they walked away from court towards the city centre.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, condemned Smith's "irresponsible" behaviour and said if he had observed the speed limit there was a chance the collision could have been avoided.

He told him: "You were driving far too fast. Too fast to allow young Sean to react and too fast to give yourself any chance of avoiding him.

There was then a quite dreadful collision in which Sean was struck by your vehicle, he was dragged beneath the wheels."

The judge said Sean's sister Stephanie and her friends went to help the fatally injured youngster, while in "stark contrast" Smith fled the scene with "self-preservation" in mind. He added: "You had neither the maturity, the courage nor the decency, to check on Sean's welfare or to face up to the devastation your careless driving had caused."

Smith, of Lynwith Lane, Carlton, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. He entered guilty pleas to two further charges of failure to stop at the scene and failure to report the accident.

In mitigation Taryn Turner said her client was full of remorse for his actions and said he fled the scene in "blind panic". She added: "He is devastated by what has happened here. That is something he will have to live with and come to terms with as is the case for the family who have lost their son and brother."

Outside court Sean's parents, Ronnie and Sharon, said they were relieved Smith had come forward. They said: "Smith did the right thing eventually, he did the right thing and accepted his responsibilities. We have no wish to ruin another life, enough lives have been ruined."

Following today's sentencing, traffic sergeant Andy Quigley, said: "I am pleased with the sentence that the judge has today given Smith. This has been a difficult and complex investigation.

"Following the collision Smith showed callous disregard for Sean, instead he fled the scene thinking only of himself, leaving Sean with horrific and life-threatening injuries.

"A significant factor in this tragic and avoidable incident is that Smith was travelling significantly faster than the legal limit set for the road.

"I would urge everyone to stop and think about how fast they are travelling and adhere to the legal limits, they are there for a reason.

"Throughout the inquiry it has been the aim of the investigation team to ensure Sean's family saw justice done before the anniversary of his death and our thoughts are with his family at this time."