A HIT-and-run driver who left a young York father fatally injured in the road has been jailed for 18 weeks.

Wakefield magistrates heard that Sirfraz Nayair Mirza had been drinking in the West Yorkshire town before heading for home early on July 13 last year.

In Westgate, he hit Dean Dawson, 24, of York, and drove off without stopping or offering to help.

Mr Dawson suffered serious head injuries and never regained consciousness. He died in Pinderfield Hospital, Wakefield. He had a young son, Alfie.

Unemployed Mirza, of Wakefield, pleaded guilty to failing to stop and report an accident, careless driving and driving without insurance.

He was jailed for 18 weeks and banned from driving for two years.

Mirza said he had only drunk two large shandies before driving. The court heard police could not confirm the level of alcohol in his system because he was not caught until he handed himself in 14 hours after the crash. He has previous convictions for drink-driving and failing to stop.

Dean’s mother, Chris Littlewood, 51, said after the hearing: “I thought a sentence would bring closure but it has not.

“The sentence was minimal, but we were expecting it. We just have to learn to live with what has happened.”

CCTV evidence showed Mr Dawson, of Didsbury Close, Rawcliffe, rolling in the road before he was hit. Last month, an inquest heard that he was messing about with friends while waiting for a taxi.

John Davison, prosecuting, said Dean had been clearly visible. “The driver did not swerve or slow down,” he said. “A reasonable, competent driver should have seen the hazard and slowed down.”

Mitigating, Emma Radley, said Mirza did not stop because he was concerned about retribution he might suffer from people at the scene. She said Mirza felt great remorse and was receiving counselling.

Paul Warnock, 54, father of Mr Dawson’s partner Laura, 23, said: “I honestly believe that Dean will have thought there was no danger in what he had been doing – he was a sensible man. Laura has been very brave but this is a big stepping stone for her. Hopefully now she can move on. Our main worry is for Alfie – he is too young to understand what has happened.”