THE hit-and-run driver who left six-year-old Leonie Shaw in the road to die will learn his fate later today.

Colin Meek, 34, of Salvin Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, is facing up to ten years in prison after his powerful Rover car crashed into the youngster near her home in Bishop Auckland.

Following a hearing at Leeds Crown Court last month, police revealed that Meek probably knew his car was a potential deathtrap before the tragedy happened on April 13.

Engineers who examined the Rover found that only one of the four brakes was working - and even that was in poor condition.

Meek was due to stand trial but changed his plea at the last moment to admit causing Leonie's death by dangerous driving.

He fled with his 21-year-old girlfriend, Emma Jane Lee, following the accident on the A688 Bishop Auckland bypass.

Leonie was taken to hospital with head, leg and internal injuries. She died in her mother's arms a few hours later.

Police took the unusual step of naming Meek as their prime suspect. He was eventually found at a house in Middlesbrough after a tip-off from a member of the public.

He told police that he had left the accident scene because he was shocked and upset and his girlfriend's daughter -who was a friend of Leonie - was in the car crying.

As well as causing death by dangerous driving Meek also pleaded guilty to failure to stop and report an accident, driving without insurance and not having a full driver's licence.