A MOTORIST who lied to police after knocking down and killing a five-year-old boy has been jailed for six months.

Amjad Mahmood had called emergency services from the scene but then tried to blame a van driver.

That innocent man, James Jones, was traced by police, breathalysed and interviewed and his vehicle was impounded for two weeks.

Mr Jones denied involvement and told officers that it was Mahmood's silver Vauxhall Corsa which had struck the child, Ryan Ashbrook.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mahmood was again questioned and when his car was examined the officers found damage to the front nearside and a hair was found under the wheel arch.

He was detained overnight and when interviewed the next day admitted it was his car which had struck the boy.

Jailing him, Judge Bruce Macmillan said that it was his public duty to impose a custodial sentence.

"It is always a wicked thing to do to tell lies and blame someone else for a crime one knows one has committed.

"It is particularly pernicious in the circumstances which we have here involving the tragic death of a young child."

Mahmood, of Taunton Avenue, Leigh, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Prosecuting, Brian Cummings told the court that about 7pm on May 28 last year Mahmood was driving his Corsa along Hope Street, Leigh.

He said: "Ryan ran out from behind a parked car and ran into the front nearside corner of his vehicle.

He was thrown in the air and killed.

"The defendant stopped and used his mobile phone to call 999 and said, I have just knocked someone over, he is only a little kid."

Two police officers arrived and began making inquiries and at least one child who had seen the accident said a blue Transit van was to blame. Mahmood approached and, having heard what was being said, "jumped on the band wagon and said he had witnessed the collision", said Mr Cummings.