A WOMAN drove off after knocking a nine-year-old boy off his bike.

Blackburn magistrates heard the boy suffered serious injuries but it was accepted the collision was his fault.

The court was told that if Sameia Sohail Mahmood had remained at the scene she would not have faced any charges but instead she was handed a suspended prison sentence.

Mahmood, 28, of Percy Street, Nelson, was convicted after trial of failing to stop and failing to report an accident. She was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £620 costs and £128 victim surcharge.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the collision occurred at the junction of Vincent Road and Barkerhouse Road, Nelson.

He said CCTV showed the boy ride straight out onto the main road. There were cars parked at the side which made it difficult for anyone to see him emerging.

“He was struck by a car travelling up Barkerhouse Road and was thrown from his bike,” said Mr Parker.

“He rotated in the air and landed in the road. The car pulled in briefly but then left.”

He said the vehicle was found in an alleyway 150 yards away with front end damage and bicycle tyre marks on the bodywork.

CCTV showed the Audi driver parking in the alley shortly after the accident and the defendant got out of the driver’s side and her husband out of the passenger side.

She appeared to wipe the steering wheel and they both then examined the damage to the car.

When she was interviewed Mahmood denied being involved in the collision. She said she did not remember wiping the steering wheel or looking at the damage.

The child’s mother said her son had undergone an eight-and-a-half hour operation at Manchester Children’s Hospital where he was a patient for three and a half weeks. He then spent three and a half months bed-bound at home.

She said he had undergone may hours of physio and had basically had to learn to walk again.

He had missed seven months of school and could no longer take part in physical education or partake in any sports.

“I can’t understand why the driver didn’t stop and left my child for dead lying in the road,” she added.

Neil Howard, defending, said his client still did not accept responsibility.

“What can be said is that she fully sympathises and is upset by the level of injuries the boy suffered,” said Mr Howard.

He said there was no evidence of bad driving and if the driver had stopped and cared for the child there would potentially have been no prosecution.

“She was insured and there were no issues with drink or drugs which were tested for by the police,” said Mr Howard.