Woman sentenced after Weymouth hit and run of schoolboy

The family of the boy who was left injured at the side of the road say they hope the motorist has learnt her lesson following the conclusion of court proceedings.

As previously reported, Anita Lizinkiewicz, 40, went on trial charged with failing to report an accident to police, and failing to stop after an accident and give her details and the details of the vehicle owner as well as identification marks for the vehicle.

Seth Yates, who was 12 at the time of the incident on July 4, 2023, had run into the path of the defendant's car on Chickerell Road after coming out of Budmouth Academy for the day.

Seth sustained a broken tooth, a bruised elbow and two dislodged teeth and is still receiving dental treatment for his injuries as well as counselling.

Read more: 'Why did you drive away after crash?': Injured boy's anguish as driver faces court

During the trial, it was accepted Lizinkiewicz was not to blame for the crash, but by law, she should have stopped and given her details - unless she was unaware it had happened.

The court heard Lizinkiewicz, of Drake Avenue in Chickerell, stopped her car for 17 seconds before driving away.

The now 13-year-old Seth told the court he had been left "angry and hurt" when she fled the scene.

Lizinkiewicz - who gave evidence via a Polish interpreter during her trial - said she did not know she had hit Seth with her car.

She said: "If I had been aware, I would have stayed. I also have children, they are my life and I can't imagine anyone to leave someone like that and not to report it."

Lizinkiewicz was found guilty of both charges at the trial in October and has now been sentenced.

Read more: Mother of boy hit by car in Chickerell Road tells of shock

Seth Yates in hospital following the collision (Image: Louisa Yates)

She received ten penalty points on her driving licence. She must also pay a fine of £180 and court costs of £400 as well as a £72 surcharge.

Speaking after the sentencing, Seth's mother Louisa says she hopes Lizinkiewicz has learned her lesson.

She said: "I hope she thinks twice before she leaves a child bleeding at the side of the road next time.

"I don't think this sentence is what me or Seth would have liked to have seen, but at least we have some form of justice."

Louisa said she wanted to thank the bus company which provided CCTV footage to aid the police investigation, as well as the Dorset Echo for covering the story.

Seth and his family made an appeal in the Echo a few days after the hit-and-run expressing their shock, thanking people who came to his aid, and backing a police appeal for witnesses to come forward about the crash.

Lizinkiewicz later came forward to the police identifying herself as the driver. She was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Friday, November 22.

Seth can be named as part of the court proceedings after reporting restrictions which would ordinarily prevent the press from naming him were lifted by magistrates.