Driver who fled crash which injured child jailed

A driver has been jailed after he fled the scene of a crash that left a four-year-old child in hospital.

Matthew Haylett, 33, was involved in the collision in Rushey Way, Reading, on 27 February and arrested on 2 March.

He was jailed for two years and eight months and banned from driving for three years and eight months. He must complete an extended retest before regaining his licence.

Haylett, of Shinfield Rise, Reading, admitted six offences, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

He also admitted failing to stop for police, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision and failing to report an accident.

The child has since been discharged from hospital and is continuing to recover.

Det Con Ben Eastment, of Thames Valley Police, said Haylett was guilty of "a reckless and irresponsible course of driving".

Eastment added: "Following the incident, he did not immediately come forward, and officers carried out extensive enquiries to locate him before he later handed himself in.

"Driving offences of this nature have devastating consequences, and we will always pursue those who put others at risk on our roads.

"I hope this sentence sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. Our thoughts remain with the injured child and their family."