Violent criminal past of hit-and-run suspect

Police yesterday took the unusual step of naming of the driver they believe was at the wheel of the powerful car that struck Leonie Shaw near her home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

He is Colin Meek, 34, a known drug user from Salvin Street, in Spennymoor.

His girlfriend Emma Jane Lee, 21, is thought to have been in the passenger seat at the time, while her two-year-old daughter was in the back seat.

The turquoise Rover 827si which struck Leonie was found abandoned on Teesside yesterday.

Forensic tests are currently being carried out on the Rover, which is being stored at a secure compound.

Neighbours of Meek have helped The Northern Echo piece together details of his violent past, which goes back to his teenage years.

Back in the 1980s, he stabbed a man in a fight outside a nightclub in Spennymoor.

And in 1999 a judge, sentencing Mr Meek to four years in prison for wounding a man in a knife attack, branded him "a dangerous person".

But those who know Mr Meek said they could not begin to understand why he fled from the scene of Saturday's tragedy, leaving the critically injured blue-eyed girl with severe head, back and internal injuries.

Her friends, witnesses to the tragedy, were left shocked and frightened.

Meek was spotted in his local, The Half Moon, in Spennymoor, early on Saturday afternoon.

One regular said: "He was not a drinker. He did a lot bad things but drinking wasn't one of them.

"I hadn't seen him for weeks. None of us know his girlfriend. I don't think they have been together very long."

Police believe that a few hours later, Mr Meek's car struck Leonie as she crossed the road, flinging her into the opposite carriageway.

Witnesses have described how the driver got out and looked at the child, before stepping hack into his car and roaring off.

A neighbour of Meek said: "If he has done this then it is sickening and he should go away for a long time, and so should his girlfriend.

"The fact that they had a child in the car and left another little girl dying in the road is appalling.

"I hope the police get to them before the community in Bishop Auckland because feelings are running very high."

Leonie, known as Lolly, died early on Sunday morning with her mother, Michelle, at her bedside in the town's general hospital.

Her family were too upset to speak yesterday and were said by police to be "inconsolable".

Leonie lived with her mother and sisters Jade, 11, and two-year-old Emily, in St Cuthbert's Walk, about 100 yards from the accident scene.

Leonie had been playing at a swing park near the road and may have been crossing the road to buy sweets before heading home at around 8pm.

It is thought one of two older children playing with Leonie crossed to a traffic island. When the younger girl followed, she was struck by the car after its driver swerved in an effort to avoid her.

Inspector Dave Hammond, of Durham Police, said: "We need to talk to this couple as quickly as possible.

"They have vital information to the investigation. They are the only ones who can tell us why they drove away.

"Public emotions are running high and we do not want any member of the public who spots Mr Meek to approach him.

"We simply need people to get in touch with us."

Railings next to the scene of the tragedy on the A688 Bishop Auckland bypass were festooned with flowers and toys as children and their parents turned up to say goodbye to the girl the called their "little angel".

Either side of the stretch of road - scarred by the Rover's skidmarks - two bridges offer safe places to cross from Henknowle to South Church.

One mother said: "The trouble is that kids don't see the danger. There is a barrier stopping them getting on the road, but they don't take any notice. They climb over it all the time."

Prayers were said at Leonie's school, St Andrew's Primary, where classmates were offered expert counselling.

Headteacher David Hutch-inson joined in the calls for Meek and Ms Lee to come forward. He said: "There's no benefit in dragging this on. It may bring some sense to all of this and hopefully end it for the family and for the school."