AN UNLICENSED driver faces a jail sentence after pleading guilty to injuring a toddler in a hit and run.

Opeyemi Ismail, 20, of Belmont Park Road, Leyton, fled the scene of the crash leaving the little boy, who was suffering from head injuries, to be comforted by his grandfather.

At Waltham Forest Magistrates’ Court this morning (August 13), the court heard that Ismail had been driving a silver Ford Focus belonging to his cousin without a license or insurance, when he drove down Heliers Road in Leyton and crashed into a red Renault Megane.

The Megane was stationary while the grandfather waited for his wife and the Ford car came around the corner at speed and ploughed into it.

Josephine Tang, prosecuting, said: “The impact caused the young boy to fall on the floor and hit his head. The driver got out of the car to see if the boy was okay. The driver of the Ford backed up and crashed into the Megane, then the driver jumped out and ran off.”

The toddler was taken to Whipps Cross Hospital with head injuries. Hours later, the defendant returned to the crash scene and admitted being the driver.

Mr Ram, defending, told the Magistrates: “He showed a tremendous amount of remorse and was horrified by what had happened. He is a very good basketball player and is at college learning computers. "It would be easy to say, ‘lock him up’, but what would happen in the end? On the day he came out he would do the same thing again. This young man should be put on a rehabilitation programme. I say you give him one last chance.”

Magistrate Brian Hilton told the court that because Ismail was already on a suspended sentence for a previous conviction, that a custodial sentence was inevitable for the charge of failing to stop at an accident.

Ismail was released on unconditional bail, to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on September 10 for sentencing on all three charges.