A HIT-AND-RUN driver who ran over a young father, leaving him dying in the road, has admitted to an inquest that he left the scene.

Dean Dawson, of Didsbury Close, in Rawcliffe, York, died after being hit by Sirfaz Nyair Mirza’s Renault Clio outside The Elephant And Castle public house on Westgate in Wakefield city centre in July last year.

Yesterday an inquest at Wakefield Coroner’s Court into the 24-year-old electrician’s death heard Mirza describe how after hitting Mr Dawson he panicked and drove off. But he said he was not over the drink-drive limit and claimed that he had only drunk two pints of lager shandy before driving a friend home.

He left The Elephant and Castle public house in the early hours and hit Mr Dawson, who played football for Hamilton Panthers, at about 3am on July 12.

At the time, the inquest heard, Mr Dawson was waiting for a taxi and messing around with his friends. He was rolling around in the road, but was clearly seen by another car seconds before Mirza struck him.

After the accident, Mr Dawson, a football-mad father-of-one, was taken to Pinderfields Hospital, but died at 9.37am. He left his long-term partner, Laura Warnock, 22, and their three-year-old son, Alfie.

Yesterday, coroner David Hinchliff recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mirza, of Wakefield, faces a number of charges at magistrates’ court, including careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and having no insurance.

Since Mr Dawson’s death, his family and friends have completed various challenges to celebrate his life and raise money for his young son.

Last August, five of his friends completed the national Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Alfie while dozens of his friends and relatives have had star tattoos done to honour tattoo enthusiast Dean.

A black tie ball was held last October at York Racecourse and most recently Hamilton Panthers dedicated their Leeper Hare York & District Football League double to Dean after the second-string won the Reserve ‘B’ title to go along with the seniors’ premier division success.