A HIT and run driver who knocked a 13-year-old boy off his bike and left him for dead, drove off to attend a pop concert, a court was told.Trainee butcher Darrell Greenaway admitted hitting cyclist Tom Lord as he drove through Whepstead, near Haverhill on August 8 this year, leaving him lying in the road with potentially life threatening head injuries.

A HIT and run driver who knocked a 13-year-old boy off his bike and left him for dead, drove off to attend a pop concert, a court was told.

Trainee butcher Darrell Greenaway admitted hitting cyclist Tom Lord as he drove through Whepstead, near Haverhill on August 8 this year, leaving him lying in the road with potentially life threatening head injuries.

Appearing before St Edmundsbury magistrates yesterday Greenaway, 25, of Westley Road, Bury St Edmunds pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident, driving with no insurance, no MoT certificate and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Greenaway could face a prison sentence, presiding magistrate Ann Woodward said, as the bench took "a dim view" of his actions and ordered a pre-sentence report with all possible options including custody to be explored.

The court was told how Greenaway, who only held a provisional licence, stopped momentarily after the accident, but instead of trying to help the boy or call for assistance, he drove off in his L registration Ford Mondeo and went first to his uncle's house in Haverhill and then on to a concert.

He did not return home until the following day, when he was arrested and, when questioned, admitted his part in the accident.

Defending Greenaway, Kevin McCarthy, said: "He did not see the cyclist, the cyclist emerged from almost nowhere," and added here had been no criticism of Greenaway's driving, and no charge had been brought about the manner in which he drove.

He added: "He didn't know what he hit, he heard a bang, he stopped and saw a body, he tried to block it out of his mind the panic was so intense.

"His remorse is total, he tells me he will never be able to forgive himself for what he did."

Tom Lord's mother Linda told the EADT she thought she had "lost him", when she found him lying in the road, and she could see inside his head, so badly was he wounded.

He was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital where a team of plastic surgeons stitched his head back together and he was put on apparatus to help him breath, not waking up until the following day.

Although scarred down one side of his head and throat, Tom has made a "miraculous" recovery, his mother said.

Greenaway also pleaded guilty to separate charges of driving without any documentation and obstructing a police officer, in relation to an incident on July 17, when he was stopped by police at Wickhambrook and gave a false name and address. He also admitted driving with two tyres in a dangerous condition on that occasion.

The case has been adjourned until October 7 for sentencing.