HIT-AND-RUN killer Colin Meek has been jailed for four years and banned from driving for life this afternoon.

Unlicensed driver Colin Meek, 34, of Salvin Street, Spennymoor, County Durham knocked over Leonie Shaw with his powerful Rover, which Teesside Crown Court heard today had grossly defective brakes.

He left the six-year-old to die in the street.

Meek, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving at a hearing last month at Leeds Crown Court, got out of his car after the accident on April 13 this year, took a few steps towards his victim, but then got back in the car and sped off.

Leonie had been crossing the A688 near her home in Bishop Auckland with a friend, on a trip to buy some sweets from a shop, when she was hit by the powerful car.

She died the next day in hospital after suffering head, leg and internal injuries.

A massive manhunt was launched to find the driver and police took the unusual step of naming Meek as their prime suspect.

After his arrest Meek tearfully told police he had fled because his girlfriend's daughter a friend of Leonie was with him in the car at the time.

His girlfriend Emma Lee has been released from prison after serving two months for aiding and abetting Meek.