'I've done nothing wrong except hit the kid on the bike': Driver jailed after leaving child with brain damage in hit-and-run

A ‘cowardly’ driver told police he ‘did nothing wrong except hit the kid on the bike’ after striking a 10-year-old boy with his car and leaving him with serious brain injuries.

Keegan Doyle, 23, fled the scene in Saltney, near Cheshire, after knocking Alfie Watts off his bike on 6 January.

Alfie was thrown into the air by the impact and was found with a life-threatening head wound and blood coming from his mouth.

He was rushed to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool where he is still being treated.

When police tracked down Mr Doyle, of Warren Drive, Broughton, who was acting as a getaway driver for a shoplifter, he told them he had done ‘nothing wrong’ except for hitting Alfie.

He was found guilty of dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident at Mold Crown Court and jailed for three years and eight months.

He was also found guilty of arson after the silver Ford Fiesta he was driving was found burnt out and abandoned.

Sergeant Liam Ho of the Roads Policing Unit said: “When Doyle drove at speed and struck Alfie with his car he will have been in no doubt that the victim would have been left, at best, with extremely serious injuries. At worst he could have been killed.

“Our thoughts remain with Alfie, who was left with significant injuries because of what Doyle did that day, as he continues to undergo treatment at Alder Hey Hospital.

“We are pleased that Doyle is now facing justice for his cowardly act and hope that the sentence reinforces our message that we will do everything we can to find people who commit such offences and bring them before the courts.”

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Alfie’s family said in a statement: “We would like to thank everyone who have wished Alfie well and who have supported him, and us as a family, through an extremely difficult time. We have been overwhelmed with the love and kindness that has been shown.

“We would also like to thank all those who stopped to assist at the time of the incident – your actions undoubtedly helped save our son’s life. Our sincere thanks also go to all the emergency services who responded and to the staff at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool who continue to provide the best care for Alfie.”