Hi °C | Lo °C A mother-of-two has admitted causing the death of a young boy by dangerous driving.
Hannah Saaf (27), of St Michael's Hill, Bristol, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to killing 11-year-old Sam Riddall.
Saaf knocked down and killed Sam in Eastfield Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, on May 1 while driving a white Ford Focus estate.
Saaf, dressed in a grey pinstripe suit, purple jumper and black headband, appeared calm as she entered her plea.
The Recorder of Bristol, Judge Tom Crowther QC, adjourned sentencing to November 27 for psychiatric reports to be prepared.
Defending counsel Ian Kelcey said Saaf “was undergoing in-patient treatment at a mental health establishment”.
Judge Crowther told the court a hospital disposal order could be considered.
Sam had been at a youth club service at the nearby Henleaze and Westbury Community Church on the evening of his death.
He was walking with the father of one of his friends and three other children when Saaf's car mounted the kerb and knocked him down.
Saaf, a former law student, immediately fled the scene and went missing for nine days.
As police tried to track her down doctors battled to save Sam at Bristol Royal Infirmary, but he died in hospital.
After five days on the run Avon and Somerset Police took the unusual step of naming Saaf and releasing her image to the media.
A week after his death Sam's parents Martin and Rachel made a public appeal for Saaf to turn herself in.
The distraught couple paid tribute to their “wonderful” son.
Mr Riddall (45) said: “Sam was the most wonderful of boys and we loved him very much. His smile could light up the darkest room and his attitude to life shone out of him like a light.”
Saaf was finally arrested on May 10 after officers found her sleeping in a barn in the village of Publow near Bristol — some 10 miles from the scene of the crime.
After yesterday's court appearance the Riddalls released a statement through their church paying further tribute to their son.
It read: “The last three months have been an incredibly painful and difficult time, we miss our lovely Sam so much.
“We have been overwhelmed by the love and support that we have experienced from our friends and families, our church, our local community and many people around the country and are so thankful for all the cards, letters and prayers from so many people.
“This love and support is helping us to get through each day. Sam asked the big questions of life and we had lots of opportunity to talk with him about heaven.
“Knowing that he is there now and that we will see him again one day gives us great hope and we continue to cling to our faith in a loving God to help us make sense of this awful tragedy.”
