A hit-and-run driver has admitted fleeing after fatally crashing into a seven-year-old boy whose body was then struck by another car.
Stewart Powell, of St Mary’s Bay, climbed out of his van and watched the tragic scenes unfold after hitting William Brown in Sandgate, near Folkestone, on December 6.
Powell struck William with his van, leaving him dead in the road. Rebecca Clayton, driving her red Citroen with three children inside, was unable to avoid hitting the youngster’s lifeless body. As she and others tried to resuscitate William, Powell, 49, got back into his van and drove off before emergency services arrived.
After William’s parents released heartbreaking appeals the following day, Powell told a 999 call handler: “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.
Laura Brown says her son, William Brown, was the ‘sweetest, funniest, kindest’ boy.
In a succession of interviews, police quizzed Powell 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.
On May 11, 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 the vehicle 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 Brown, 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 spoke from the dock to confirm his name, address, and date of birth, and enter guilty pleas. His sentencing was adjourned until July 17 pending a pre-sentence report.
William Brown’s heartbroken dad, also called William, made a heartbreaking appeal for information from the young boy’s bedroom following his death.
Brown family Powell’s lawyer argued a court order should be made to keep his address anonymous 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 from 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 the hearing, Mrs Brown stressed she is petitioning for harsher sentences for those who fail to stop at the scene of a collision. But she says she has forgiven Powell for his actions on that fateful day.
William Brown was trying to retrieve a football when he was struck close to his home 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.
William Brown Sr will on Monday open a shop in Folkestone town centre featuring food and drink his son loved.
