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Woman admits boy's dangerous driving death

Ben Bailey
29.09.09

A mother-of-two today admitted to causing the death of an young boy by dangerous driving.

Hannah Saaf, 27, of St Michael's Hill, Bristol, pleaded guilty to killing 11-year-old Sam Riddall at Bristol Crown Court.

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 inpatient 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 Saaf 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 then made a public appeal for Saaf to turn herself in.

The distraught couple paid tribute to their "wonderful" son.

Mr Riddall, 45, a former RAF mechanic who works for Campus Crusade for Christ International, 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.

"He was passionate about football and he loved his brothers and us. He also knew he was loved by us very much indeed."

He added: "But we miss him very much indeed. And we wish he was here with us every second of the day."

Saaf was finally arrested on May 10, officers arrested Saaf after she was found sleeping in a barn in the village of Publow, near Bristol - some 10 miles from the scene of the crime.

There were no members of Saaf's family present in court today.

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