Boy, 16, pleads guilty to dangerous driving after three-year-old critically injured in hit-and-run

Toddler Leo Durrington remains in hospital after being run over by teenager during hit-and-run crash

Three-year-old Leo Durrington was left with life-threatening injures following the crash on Tuesday (PA)

A 16-year-old boy has admitted seriously injuring a toddler with a stolen van as he attempted to evade police during a pursuit.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Wigan Youth Court on Thursday.

Leo Durrington, a three-year-old from Wigan, was hit as the boy was being chased by police through Leigh in Greater Manchester on Tuesday morning.

The toddler received life-threatening injuries in the hit-and-run incident and remains in hospital, where his condition is described as critical.

Covering his face to hide tears as he stood in the dock, the teenager also pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police, failing to stop after a collision, driving without a licence, driving without insurance and a handling a stolen van.

A 15-year-old boy, who is on bail, also appeared at the court, where he admitted a charge of being carried in a stolen vehicle.

James Gore, prosecuting, told the court he expected to give further details about the incident when the hearing resumed later on Thursday, although sentencing was not expected to take place.

It is thought Leo had been injured when the van mounted the pavement where he was walking with his mother and nine-year-old sister.

Police immediately stopped pursuit of the van and administered first aid to the toddler before paramedics arrived.

The van, which failed to stop, was later recovered by officers in Abram, Wigan, before the two teenagers were arrested on Wednesday.

The incident has also been referred to Greater Manchester Police’s standards branch, a move the force described as “in line with normal policy”.

Additional reporting by PA