SAD:Family cancel Christmas after their child was left for dead

The family of an 11-year-old schoolboy 'left for dead' by a hit-and-run driver on a stolen motorbike have cancelled Christmas.

Dad David Jones said this festive season had been rendered meaningless the moment his son Jake was mowed down by the stolen motorbike.

Jake's injuries include a broken leg, a fractured arm, fractured ankle and damaged spleen and bruised lungs among other complications as a result of the horror crash - which also left him with facial injuries.

A week on, West Midlands Police are still hunting the rider - who stopped only to put his shoe back on before driving off.

David, 59, said last night: “I could not give a monkeys about Christmas this year.

“I will have beans on toast for my lunch, for all I care.

Our focus is Jake and being with him on Christmas Day.

“All I want is whoever is responsible for doing this to my beloved son to do the right thing and give themselves up.

“At this time of year, the tree is usually surrounded by presents.

“But it’s empty because we have had no time to buy any gifts.

We don’t even know if Jake will be home for Christmas.

“We were hoping he would be but it seems like every time we go to see him, there’s another problem and he is screaming in pain again."

The Birmingham Mail reported Mr Jones had made an emotional plea for witnesses to come forward - warning the next child may not be so 'lucky'.

He had initially thought his son had been killed when he arrived at the scene.

Mr Jones heard his son was ‘thrown into the air’ after he was hit by the motorbike.

And couldn't believe someone would drive off - leaving his son lying there.

“I can’t put into words the bond I have with Jake and it kills me to see him like this," he added.

“I hope the riders sees what they have done to my son and hands themselves in.”

Jake suffered a torn spleen, a broken leg and arm, bruised lungs and head and facial injuries.

He was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital from the accident scene in Farnborough Road, Castle Vale,where he is still receiving intensive treatment.

Mr Jones also said the family felt "let down" by the police response since his son’s accident.

He said they felt there had not been enough support from police and officers had not been proactive enough in looking for the rider.

Chief Insp Kerry Blakeman, of West Midlands Police, said: “We continue to appeal for information following a hit and run in Castle Vale last Wednesday where a young boy was seriously injured.

“The 11-year-old was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

“This was a shocking incident for the boy, his family and indeed our officers who were immediately sent to the scene and started the investigation to hunt for the motorcyclist who failed to stop.

“I have spoken to the parents of the boy and assured them we are doing everything we can to find the person responsible.

As a father, I fully understand the family’s anguish and, like them, we wish the lad a speedy recovery.

“The rider now needs to do the right thing and come forward.”

Anyone with information about the driver should call 101 - quoting log 1370 7/12.