A drink-driver who killed his two year-old passenger and left the toddler's dad brain damaged was sentenced to eight years imprisonment at the Old Bailey, yesterday.

Paul Cooper pleaded guilty on Tuesday to causing the death of his friend's toddler by dangerous driving.

The 25-year-old, of St William's Street, Carshalton, fled after the car he was driving at high speed, at 12.15am, on March 5, crashed into a brick pillar at the junction of Bishopsford Road and Morden Road.

Two-year-old Alfie Bertuchi, who was in the back seat, died later that day in Great Ormond Street Hospital while his dad Richard Bertuchi, 30, from Carshalton, who was travelling in the passenger seat, was left in a coma. He remains brain damaged.

Two other people suffered serious injuries after the force of the crash spilt the red Sierra he was driving in two and part of the wreckage collided with two other cars a blue Rover and a blue Metro.

Cooper climbed from the wreckage during the commotion but gave himself up to police as soon as he heard about Alfie's death, a friend said.

Alfie's mum Rebecca Bertuchi, 22, who is separated from Richard, said at the time: "Alfie touched everyone's lives and from the moment he was born I knew he would be special. He was a bit shy but brilliant once you got to know him."

And Richard's sister, Charmaine Carrington, 33, of Thornton Road, said: "Alfie gave Ricky the will to live. He was such a beautiful little boy."

In a statement, the family added: "Alfie was a loveable and happy child who bought sheer joy to all that came into contact with him.

"He has now been taken from us before he got any chance to have a life.

"His loss cannot be put into words and no-one can describe how empty our lives are without him."