Baby will never know father because of teenage joyrider

Ken Hong, 38, died after he was thrown from the bonnet of the car and suffered fatal head injuries.

His widow Lan Hong today hit out at the 16-year-old joyrider found guilty of manslaughter for robbing her children of their father.

Mr Hong was about to leave for work and had left his Honda Civic outside his home in Streatham with the engine running when the teenager struck.

He rushed from his home and clung to the windscreen wipers in a bid to foil the thief. But the boy sped away and took a sharp bend at speed, throwing him off like a "ragdoll".

The charity worker died three days later, after being in a coma, shortly before his son 's fourth birthday. He also left behind two daughters of 13 and 11, and his unborn son.

The car was found nearby. Police tracked the killer through DNA found on the steering wheel.

Mrs Hong, who at the time was a few weeks pregnant, gave birth to their fourth child two weeks ago. Cradling the boy, who has not yet been named, she said: "I cannot bear the fact my son will never know his father. I'll show him photos and tell him stories about Ken but nothing can replace him.

"He is going to miss out on so much not having his father around."

The teenage, of Mitcham, who cannot be named, was yesterday cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. Mrs Hong, a manicurist, has been forced to sell her nail salon to care for her children alone.

She said:"This boy will probably be out in a few years. He must have known my husband could die when he drove off. It should have been murder." Sentencing is on 28 February.