A MAN who reversed his van into a six-year-old child who was helping him park lied to police about what had happened.

Blackburn magistrates heard Scott Walker, who was over the drink-drive limit, claimed he had been walking with the boy who then ran off and was struck by a van which left the scene.

The deception was quickly uncovered by police and Walker admitted the truth.

Walker, 34, of St Mary's Wharf, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, without due care and attention and without insurance or licence, obstructing a police officer and using a hand held phone while driving on January 28; failing to provide a specimen for analysis on May 31; and insurance and driving licence offences on May 5 2020.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 75 hours unpaid work. He was made subject to a 90-day Alcohol Abstention Requirement and banned from driving for three years.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the child suffered a serious head injury as a result of the incident in Marlton Road, Blackburn.

Walker had been trying to park the van and asked the child to look out of the window to tell him how far off he was. He then asked the child to get out of the van and guide him before reversing the van into him.

The child suffered a 20cm cut to his head and bruising to his spleen and lungs.

"He had no licence or insurance and was over the drink-drive limit," said Mr Robinson.

The refusal to provide a sample came after a car was found on its roof on Barbara Castle Way.

Walker had been seen leaving with a female and was arrested. He gave a roadside reading of 90 but at the police station refused to provide an evidential sample.

He said Walker had previous alcohol related driving offences in 2012, 2013 and 2017.

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said the "totality" of the offences before the court demanded a custodial sentence.

"The question is whether you can suspend that sentence," said Mr Bakhat.

He said that after reversing into the child Walker conceded he had fabricated an account to try and evade responsibility.

He said Walker had not been driving the car that ended up on its roof.

"He made the mistake of thinking that because he hadn't been driving he didn't have to provide a sample," said Mr Bakhat.