A 51-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody awaiting a prison sentence after he admitted causing the death of nine-year-old George Lewis in a hit-and-run collision.

Luke Widdop, of Park Avenue, Keighley, arrived on bail at Bradford Crown Court yesterday but after he entered his guilty plea, his lawyer John Bottomley told Judge Jonathan Rose that he wanted to be remanded straight into custody.

He will not be sentenced until October 19, but the judge said Widdop was aware that the only outcome would be prison.

“You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence with tragic consequences and you have done so on the first occasion before this court for which you will receive credit,” he told Widdop.

Widdop admitted causing the death of the schoolboy by driving a vehicle in Sutton Lane, Sutton-in-Craven, without due care and attention when he was unfit to drive through drugs.

At the time of the collision on September 17, 2021, it was reported that the youngster and his dad had been walking home from the local cricket club when he was hit by a white van which then drove off.

Despite the attendance of the emergency services, George was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge Rose said the sentencing hearing would take about 90 minutes and arrangements would be made for family members to be present.

He ordered that Widdop be produced at court, saying it was not a case where he could appear on a prison video link.

A swathe of floral tributes was left at the roadside where the incident happened, paying tribute to the popular youngster.

One of the notes read “Rest in peace, little dinosaur man,” while another read “George, thank you for being such a special friend. I will miss you.”

Another from a family member said: “Our hearts are broken. We will love and miss you eternally, Gorgeous Georgie.”

Another read: “Such a clever, happy, funny boy who we will never forget. You were taken away from us far too soon.”

A card was left at the scene for his close family. It read: “Our hearts pour out with sadness on such tragic news. Everybody in the community is thinking of you and your family.”

Following the incident, hundreds of local residents petitioned for footpaths to be introduced on the rural road which comes under the jurisdiction of both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Council.