A HIT-and-run driver with three previous driving bans who killed an 11-year-old boy has been jailed for six years and eight months.

Michael Ricardo Robinson was speeding at 55mph in a 20mph zone when he hit "genius" Taylor Schofield as he attempted to cross the road.

The youngster was fatally hit while riding his mountain bike near his home in Beswick, Manchester in January.

Robinson then "cowardly" fled the scene in Albert Street as the stricken youngster lay in the road, before the 31-year-old handed himself in to cops more than an hour later.

When Robinson pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court on Monday to causing death by dangerous driving, it emerged he had been disqualified three times from driving previously.

The dad-of-one was banned from driving for two years as a youth in September 2004 after he chased another vehicle before he rammed it.

Robinson was back before the courts in 2006 for another motoring offence when he drove a quad bike on a public road in a dangerous manner while disqualified.

He was sentenced to a community order and given another two-year driving ban.

In April 2017 he was disqualified for a third time for driving while under the influence of drugs and was handed a 12-month ban and a fine.

Passing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Walsh told Robinson: "Taylor Schofield, a young boy with considerable potential and with his whole life ahead of him, was killed as a result of the dangerous manner in which you drove your motor vehicle."

Robinson, from Gorton, was disqualified from driving for 10 years and four months and ordered to take another extended retest at the end of the ban.

Judge Walsh said the defendant's decision to flee the scene after he stopped briefly was a "cowardly and selfish act", although he noted that he phoned his solicitor, Brian Koffman, a short time later and handed himself in.

Earlier this week, Mr Koffman told the court that his client had "panicked" as people gathered at the collision scene, adding he was genuinely remorseful.

Taylor's parents, Beverley Law and Terry Sheehan, issued statements through Greater Manchester Police.

Mrs Law said: "My son Taylor will be so sadly missed by us all – Mum, Matthew, Sophie, Dean, John, friends and family. We will never forget you. You are always in our hearts."

Mr Sheehan said: "Taylor, you are my world. We were going on holiday this year and that was tragically taken away from us. You loved your football and those are memories I will hold dearly. My boy, my life will never be the same without you. All I feel is pure devastation and I will feel that every day. Love Dad."

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In her victim personal statement to the court, Mrs Law said her son, a keen Manchester United fan, was "a genius" who excelled at all subjects and was in the highest sets in his first year at Droylsden Academy.

She said: "He took real pride in his work and was popular with staff and pupils from all years. From the moment he entered the school he was seen high-fiving older pupils.

"He was a very bright, intelligent kid who was always smiling, making jokes. He has been taken away too soon. It's too quiet in the house without him."

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