A driver who confessed to a hit-and-run that killed a young boy had previously been banned from driving on three occasions.

Michael Ricardo Robinson, 31, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 11-year-old Taylor Schofield by dangerous driving on 12 January at Manchester crown court. He was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment on Wednesday.

The court heard that Robinson received a two-year driving ban in September 2004. He was banned for another two years in 2006 for driving while disqualified. He received a third 12-month ban in April 2017. A judge said Robinson “deliberately chose to ignore or had a flagrant disregard for the rules of the road”.

CCTV footage showed Robinson’s Volkswagen Golf travelling at an estimated speed of 55mph in a 20mph zone when he knocked Schofield off his bike in Beswick, Manchester.

Gavin Howie, prosecuting, told the court a witness saw Schofield stopping to look both ways on Albert Street before the force of the collision saw him being thrown into the air. He died 30 minutes later from the injuries sustained.

The court was also told that Robinson got out of his car but “panicked” before driving away.

Brian Hoffman, defending, explained that Robinson turned himself in that night and co-operated with the police. Hoffman added: “He expresses his apologies to the family of Taylor for the hurt and harm he has caused them.”

Judge Martin Walsh told Robinson: “I want to make the self-evident point that nothing that this court can do will put right the wrong that has been done and it should be understood that the sentence that I am about to impose cannot, and is not intended to, reflect the value of the young life that was tragically lost on that evening.

“Taylor Schofield, a young boy with considerable potential and with his whole life ahead of him, was killed as a result of the dangerous manner in which you drove your motor vehicle.”

Schofield’s parents did not comment on the sentence, but police officers who investigated the incident said the family were “served a life sentence”, adding that Robinson’s jail term “would never be enough”.