A hit-and-run driver who knocked down and seriously injured a schoolboy on a zebra crossing waited two-and-a-half hours before calling police, a court has heard.

Natalie Parker, 24, struck Noh Alnour with her BMW in St Stephen’s Road, Canterbury, breaking his leg in two places.

But as the 14-year-old lay stricken on the ground, Parker drove off, only deciding to alert authorities later that evening that she “believed she hit something”.

Noh’s mother, Toni, said at the time: “The driver must have realised they had caused injury to a child, or even worse.”

Parker – a mum herself – was later arrested and charged with driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after a road accident.

She pleaded guilty to both charges and on Tuesday appeared before Margate magistrates for sentencing.

The court was told that on January 10, 2020, a number of witnesses saw Parker’s car hit Noh on the zebra crossing at about 6.30pm.

She did not stop and continued to drive along St Stephen’s Road, arriving in Whitstable 20 minutes later.

It was only two-and-a-half hours after the incident that she chose to call police.

Simon Langton Boys’ pupil Noh was taken to Margate’s QEQM hospital, where x-rays revealed he had suffered a double leg fracture.

He needed surgery to remove a piece of bone from his cartilage and had to recover in a thigh-high plaster cast.

Parker’s defence solicitor, Hugh Roberts, urged magistrates not to take her driving licence, claiming it is “absolutely essential” to her.

“She’s never been in this sort of trouble before and hasn’t been since,” Mr Roberts said.

“She has a small child who she needs to get to school. It’s an hour-long round trip every day.”

Parker, of High Street Road, Faversham, was fined £75 and given six points on her licence for the charge of driving without due care and attention.

For failing to stop and report the incident – an offence she initially denied – she was hit with another £75 fine and had her licence endorsed.

She must also pay a further £85 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

As Parker is currently deemed unfit to work due to mental health issues, the money will be deducted monthly from her Universal Credit payments.