Getaway driver jailed after hit-and-run which left 10-year-old Saltney boy fighting for his life

Keegan Doyle’s reckless driving left Alfie Watts fighting for his life in hospital. The schoolboy suffered life-changing injuries after he was in collision with a Ford Fiesta in which Doyle was at the wheel in Park Avenue, Saltney.

Judge Niclas Parry told Doyle that he had driven like an “idiot” and that his behaviour had been “utterly selfish and cowardly” to leave a child in the road with serious injuries.

Alfie suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on his brain as a result of the hit and run on January 6 this year. He was placed in an induced coma at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool and has spent nearly two months in hospital.

Jailed: Keegan Doyle

The youngster also underwent plastic surgery to repair the damage caused to one of his legs.

Judge Parry told Doyle: “Your victim was crossing the road you drove at him and simply struck him, he struck he windscreen and bounced off the car and onto the roof. What followed was utterly selfish and cowardly behaviour in that you drove off leaving a child who could very well have been dead on the road.

“He was too ill to move in hospital and there were fears he might pass away."

Doyle was embroiled in a shop raid in Saltney and was waiting in the driving seat of the Ford Fiesta for two accomplices who went inside the premises.

When one of them dashed out carrying a stolen coat, he drove off at high speed. A passing motorist reported he was travelling at between 50 and 60mph.

After striking Alfie, Doyle drove off and later made an attempt to burn the vehicle.

Alfie’s mother Zoey Grundy said in an victim impact statement read out at Mold Crown Court that she didn’t think her son, who is due to be discharged this week, would be “physically or mentally able to go outside again”.

Mrs Grundy recalled the anguish of the events of two months ago.

“It was 4.30 in the morning when we could see Alfie (in hospital) and it was heart-breaking seeing him lying there with tubes and wires in him. He didn’t move for 24 hours and he was monitored constantly," said the mother.

“We were awoken by nursing staff to say he needed surgery because there was a swelling on his brain. We sat at his bedside praying for him to wake up.

“Alfie has only said a few words since the collision. He was an athletic boy who played football for the school team and was very sociable and loving. He was looking forward to going away on the school trip to Glanllyn.

“He has been robbed of a very important year going up to high school. This has not just affected Alfie but all his family and close friends.”

Doyle, 23, of Warren Drive, Broughton pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and arson.

His counsel, Robin Boag, said the defendant recollected his speed as being around 30mph after he picked up his second accomplice and drove down Park Avenue.

“He saw the two boys on bikes. A sensible driver would have slowed down to exercise care, he didn’t do that and seemed to be distracted for a moment, looking down, and he hit Alfie,” said Mr Boag.

“He accepts that he didn’t stop and it is quite clear that there was a futile attempt to set the car on fire. He was panicking and in so doing he left a wallet with his ID next to the car.

“He was arrested when he handed himself in. He is pleased to hear that Alfie will be coming out of hospital, but he can’t turn the clock back and he accepts there is only going to be one sentence.”

Judge Parry sentenced Doyle to three years custody for the driving offence and added a consecutive eight-month sentence for the arson.

He also banned him from driving for four years and 10 months.

“The life of a bright, happy 10-year-old boy was irreversibly changed that day,” said the judge.

“He was playing outside on his bike and he came across you, a getaway driver fleeing the scene of a crime regardless of the risk to anyone else.

“You drove through a residential area at excessive speeds for some distance, your driving was dangerously fast and you were driving like an idiot.”

The judge also highlighted the actions of a resident who heard “a thud and came onto the street to give assistance”, with the judge adding it probably saved the stricken youngster's life.

He ordered the court make an award of £500 to the lady as a token of goodwill from the public purse.

Following sentencing, Sergeant Liam Ho of the Roads Policing Unit said: “When Doyle drove at speed and struck Alfie with his car he will have been in no doubt that the victim would have been left, at best, with extremely serious injuries. At worst he could have been killed.

“Our thoughts remain with Alfie, who was left with significant injuries because of what Doyle did that day, as he continues to undergo treatment at Alder Hey Hospital.

“We are pleased that Doyle is now facing justice for his cowardly act and hope that the sentence reinforces our message that we will do everything we can to find people who commit such offences and bring them before the courts.”

The family of Alfie Watts said: “We would like to thank everyone who have wished Alfie well and who have supported him, and us as a family, through an extremely difficult time. We have been overwhelmed with the love and kindness that has been shown.

“We would also like to thank all those who stopped to assist at the time of the incident – your actions undoubtedly helped save our son’s life. Our sincere thanks also go to all the emergency services who responded and to the staff at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool who continue to provide the best care for Alfie.”

A 28-year-old woman, who was also arrested in connection with the incident, will appear before Mold Crown Court on March 22.