A BIKER who injured and abandoned a four-year-old in a hit and run left court with just eight penalty points and a fine on Thursday.

Calls for an automatic ban for off-road bikers who flout the law have followed the sentencing of Sean Yarrow, who knocked down a little girl in Spennymoor recently.

After hearing harrowing details of the case, County Durham and Darlington’s Police, Crime and Victims Commissioner, Ron Hogg, called for stricter sentencing, including automatic disqualifications for nuisance bikers caught breaking the law.

With a passenger behind him, Yarrow was riding his uninsured off-road bike along a residential street when the child ran into the road on Thursday, April 13.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court heard that Yarrow was unable to avoid hitting the girl, who was dragged around 20 feet down the road and left bleeding from the mouth, with a number of cuts and bruises.

Pursued by the child’s frantic father, Yarrow fled the scene but returned minutes later to check on the girl’s welfare.

He was arrested and on Thursday, pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle without insurance and failing to stop after a road accident.

Michael Clark, mitigating, said Yarrow’s vehicle was not insured because he intended to use it off-road and, at the time of the incident, was making a two-minute journey from his brother’s house to an appropriate site for doing so.

Mr Clark added: “The child ran out in such a way that a collision occurred before he could react at all.”

“He did not stop due to panicking but soon returned as he was extremely worried about the welfare of the little girl.

“He expressed great remorse and wishes to extend his sincere apologies to the family of the child.”

Despite Yarrow – of Weardale Street, Spennymoor - having similar offences on his record, he walked free from court having been ordered to pay just £100 in compensation and a fine of £335.

Chair of the bench Glynn Wales said the consequences of his actions could have been “really grave” as he endorsed the 26-year-old’s licence – which already had five points on it – with eight penalty points, meaning a six month disqualification under totting up guidelines.

PCVC Ron Hogg said the sentence should have been more severe, adding: “Incidents like this need to be taken very seriously, when someone is driving an off-road bike in the road without insurance.

“This kind of behaviour should be clamped down upon and I am very disappointed with the sentencing in this case.

“I would like to extend my sympathies to the little girl and her family and I hope that she did not suffer from her injuries and has been able to cope with them.

“The penalties should be stronger, and I will be calling for such drivers to be automatically banned.”

The little girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham and kept overnight for observation.

She is believed to be recovering from her injuries.