A hit-and-run driver who knocked down and killed a seven-year-old boy and left him in the road "like an animal" has been spared jail.

William Brown was pronounced dead at the scene on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade near Folkestone after Stewart Powell’s grey Peugeot van struck and propelled him into the path of another car on December 6 last year.

Powell saw William lying in the road after hitting him with his van but left the scene, Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace said Powell had driven a short distance after the collision and saw CPR being carried out on William as he lay in the carriageway, but fled the scene as he “panicked”.

The 49-year-old called 999 the following day, telling officers “the whole f****** thing just stressed me out” as he described how William had run out in front of him.

The father-of-two appeared emotional as William’s parents read statements in court on the devastating loss of their son.

William’s mother, Laura Brown, hit out at Powell for leaving her son in the road “like an animal” and said he “deserved better”.

“Stewart stood watching the catastrophic incident unfold. He made a conscious decision to get back into his van and leave him,” she said.

“That behaviour is simply inhumane.

“We had to deal with the hammer blow someone hit him and left the scene.”

She added: “The not knowing who killed William tortured my mind. I was begging the van driver to come forward. Stewart’s actions prolonged suffering we were already enduring.”

William Brown Snr said: “It was cowardly not to stop and keep driving, Stewart.”

But he said: “I know William would forgive Stewart… I forgive you, Stewart, I give your family peace and restoration.”

He added that his son should not have been in the road, and that the accident “could have happened to anyone”, adding: “I hope we can all consider road safety a priority moving forward… so William’s life is not wasted.”

Defending Powell, Adrienne Wright said the incident was out of character for him and it was “sheer panic”, not being able to handle what was going on in front of his eyes.

“Not a moment passes that he does not regret his decision,” she said.

Sentencing Powell, District Judge Claire Loxford said: “Your punishment will go far beyond the sentence I impose on you this morning.

“By leaving the scene you denied police the opportunity to investigate other offences, having accepted being a cannabis user at the time, and having used cannabis that day.”

Powell, of St Mary’s Bay, who pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of the accident and driving without valid insurance, was sentenced to 14 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, and a curfew.

William, a St Eanswythe Primary School pupil, 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.

Speaking after today’s hearing, Ms Brown said: “It’s really sad, I feel like William was left for dead like an animal, I couldn’t even hurt a dog, cat or anybody, so the fact William was left to die is quite alarming. “