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Motorist Robert Lawrence lied to police after crash death of Kyle Coen, 14, in Bapchild

Kyle Coen, 14, from Teynham, was killed in a hit-and-run in Bapchild
Kyle Coen, 14, from Teynham, was killed in a hit-and-run in Bapchild

A driver has admitted lying to the police that his car had been stolen after he was involved in an accident in which a teenage cyclist was killed.

Robert Lawrence, of Railway Cottages, Barrow Green, Teynham, admitted perverting the course of justice today and could now be jailed.

A judge at Maidstone Crown Court was told the 24-year-old was not facing any other charges over the death of Kyle Coen, pictured right.

The 14-year-old popular Sittingbourne Community College pupil was cycling to see his girlfriend Donna Clarke on July 30 last year when he was struck by Lawrence's Fiat Bravo car in London Road by Bapchild Cricket Club ground.

Gary Pons, prosecuting, said Lawrence failed to stop after the accident and then telephoned police to claim his car had been stolen.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC asked: "Will there be any proceedings as a result of the collision?"

Mr Pons replied: "No, it was investigated for approximately six months and the decision was that no proceedings be brought for that."

Kyle Coen was killed after being knocked down on the A2 London road outside the Bapchild Cricket Club
Kyle Coen was killed after being knocked down on the A2 London road outside the Bapchild Cricket Club

Kyle Coen died after being hit outside Bapchild Cricket Club

Requesting pre-sentence reports, Tamsin Ryder, defending, said Lawrence had been warned that a prison sentence was a real possibility.

"He has entered a very timely guilty plea," she said. "It is obviously a serious charge."

Adjourning sentence until after February 24 and granting bail, Judge Macdonald said reports would provide "more of a feel for what potentially could have been a prosecution for a road traffic collision".

The judge said reports should consider a suspended jail sentence or high community order, but warned: "It does look like shortish custody at the moment."

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