Joyrider detained for killing boy

Daniel's organs are believed to have helped to save three lives

A teenage joyrider has been detained for three years after admitting killing an eight-year-old boy while showing off to his friends in a stolen car.

Daniel Conroy-Curtin from Middlesbrough died from brain injuries after being hit by the Rover Metro as he played with friends in a Teesside park in May.

On Monday, Ashley Lindo, 16, of Orwell Street, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The judge at Teesside Crown Court also gave him a seven-year driving ban.

The court heard Lindo, who has several convictions for stealing cars, was driving the hatchback erratically across Middlesbrough's Riverside Park and performing dangerous handbrake turns at speed.

In the car with Lindo as it drove towards Daniel were co-accused 19-year-old Lee Fenton and Jason Wheatley, 18.

The court heard that the wing mirror of the car struck Daniel and threw him 6ft into the air.

As he lay unconscious on the ground Lindo, who was 15 at the time, and his co-defendants ran off leaving other people to call the emergency services.

I think even now you are too young to understand fully that you have deprived a child of his life and a family of someone who was dearly loved Judge Peter Fox QC

When first interviewed Lindo told police he was not driving the Metro. He added: "Never seen it, never got in it, never drove it."

He later admitted killing Daniel, and also pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking.

Fenton, of Oxford Street, Middlesbrough, and Wheatley, of Meath Street, Middlesbrough, both admitted being carried in the vehicle. They will be sentenced later.

'Long punishment'

With Daniel in hospital, his mother, who is separated from the boy's father, made the difficult decision to release a photograph of her son connected to a life support machine in the James Cook University Hospital to show the dangers of joyriding.

He never regained consciousness and died on 25 May - nine days after being hit. Daniel's organs were donated for transplant and it is believed he has helped to save three lives.

Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said Lindo would live with what he had done for the rest of his life.

He said: "I think even now you are too young to understand fully that you have deprived a child of his life and a family of someone who was dearly loved.

"That will be your punishment when you are older and it will be a long punishment."