Additional reporting by Abigail Hook

The mother of a seven-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run crash says she forgives the driver who left her son dead in the road.

Laura Brown bravely spoke out as Stewart Powell, 49, appeared in the dock today and admitted fleeing the scene after knocking down William Brown in Sandgate, near Folkestone.

The town’s magistrates’ court was told the youngster was struck by Powell's van while retrieving his football from the road, with the force “propelling” him into the path of another vehicle.

Powell later admitted to police he had smoked a cannabis joint before the accident, but because he did not hand himself in until the following day, tests were unable to determine if he had been over the legal limit at the time.

Speaking outside the courthouse, Ms Brown called for tougher sentences for perpetrators who fail to stop at the scene of an accident.

“I think he was protecting himself; he wasn’t thinking of William, he wasn’t thinking of the family, he wasn’t thinking about William dead in the road,” she added.

“He was literally just thinking about the protection of himself, which is really sad, because if he was doing the honourable thing he should have stopped, he should have protected William.

“He should have stayed, been able to speak with the police and explain [what happened].

“William was obviously playing in the garden, he did climb out, so that isn’t Stewart’s fault, children do crazy things, it’s unfortunate what happened.

“We don’t know the speed he was driving, we don’t know his demeanour either – only Stewart knows these facts.

“I think his actions afterwards have been quite callous but we as a family forgive him. We would just love him to come together and do some restorative justice and make a change.”

William was struck by the van outside his home in Sandgate Esplanade at about 5.30pm on December 6 last year.

Prosecutor Dylan Bradshaw told the court how the force of Powell’s van pushed William into the path of a red Citroen being driven by Rebecca Clayton, who was travelling home with her three children.

She told police in a statement: “I heard a loud bang. It made me stop. My eyes were immediately drawn to the location of the bang.”

Ms Clayton got out of her car and placed her hand on William’s chest, feeling for a pulse, but “sadly couldn’t feel anything”, Mr Bradshaw explained.

She called 999 as others, including ambulance staff who were in the area by chance, went to William’s aid.

“Tragically their efforts were in vain,” Mr Bradshaw explained.

“I want to contrast her actions with what the defendant did,” the lawyer stressed.

The court was told how police launched a manhunt after Powell’s van left the scene.

After a heartbreaking media appeal from William’s parents the next day, Powell called 999 to hand himself in.

Powell mentioned the accident to the call handler, adding: “Actually I was involved in it, I’m stressing, I don’t know what to do”.

Following his arrest in Dymchurch on December 7, Powell’s blood was found to contain traces of cannabis.

In a succession of interviews police quizzed him on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

He told detectives he had an “unhealthy relationship” with the drug but had only smoked a joint the night before the accident and on the morning of the crash.

On May 11 this year, he was charged with failing to stop at the scene of a collision, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

He was also charged with driving the grey Peugeot without insurance as, although the vehicle was insured, it was driven outside the policy’s terms.

Admitting both charges at Folkestone Magistrate’s Court today, Powell could be seen bowing his head, crossing his arms and looking at the floor in the dock.

William’s mum Laura remained stoic throughout the hearing as the distressing facts of the case were laid bare.

Wearing a dark suit and light-coloured shirt, Powell, of Dunstall Gardens, was supported by his wife in court.

He arrived at court wearing a Covid facemask and spoke from the dock to confirm his name, address, date of birth, enter guilty pleas and state he had understood proceedings.

His sentencing was adjourned until July 17 pending a pre-sentence report.

Chair of the bench Kathrin Warren said: “We have decided that we will be adjourning your case for an all options report to be prepared.”

Imposing an interim driving disqualification for six months, she added: “You cannot drive any motor vehicle on any road or public place from this moment.

“Do you have any questions?”

“No," Powell replied.

Powell’s lawyer Adrienne Wright argued a court order should be imposed to keep his address anonymous from the public for “fear of what may happen”.

But the bench threw out the application after reporters stressed the importance of open justice and how Powell, whose case is no different to other hearings, did not deserve specialist treatment.

The chair of the bench refused the bid because there was “no clear evidence” Powell could come to harm.

Following his death, William’s devastated dad, who had watched on helplessly during the CPR efforts, paid tribute to his “gentle” and “wonderful child”.

He was laid to rest on January 13 at The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe - a place he would often go to play with his friends.

King Charles granted special permission for William to be buried at the historic graveyard, which had been shut for burials since 1855 after an order was issued by the Privy Council.

Hundreds of mourners attended, with many lining the streets for the funeral procession through Folkestone, while 10,000 people tuned in to a live stream shared on KentOnline.

William Brown Sr will on Monday open a shop in Folkestone town centre featuring food and drink his son loved.