A man has been banned from driving for three years for causing the hit-and-run death of a teenager.

Christopher Rolfe, 44, is already serving a 22-month jail term after admitting offences relating to the death of 18-year-old Gary Finch.

Rolfe was again in court yesterday to deny careless driving in connection with the incident.

Following a day-long trial at Hastings Magistrates Court, Deputy District Judge James Shrimpton found him guilty of the charge.

The court heard that Gary was with friends Daniel Walbrin and Colin Chatfield at 8.55pm on November 14, 2003, when the crash happened.

Earlier they had visited some friends' houses, bought food and drink from Safeway and were heading to Daniel's house near Alexandra Park.

Mr Walbrin, 18, said a car travelling eastbound appeared from round a bend along Upper Park Road, Hastings, with its headlights on.

The car struck Gary, who was walking nearest to the road on a grass verge, sending him flying about 60ft.

Mr Walbrin said he saw the car slew across the road then corrected itself before moving off as Gary lay critically injured.

The car, a J-registration Renault 19, was later found burnt out at Upper Broomgrove Road, Hastings - about two miles from the crash scene.

Gary, of Seaside Road, St Leonards, lay critically ill in the Conquest Hospital, St Leonards, for four days.

He died in intensive care from severe head injuries on November 18. Rolfe, of Pevensey Road, Hastings, had claimed he could not recollect being behind the wheel of the car that night.

He declined to comment in police interviews and also declined to give evidence to support his not guilty plea to careless driving yesterday.

In November he admitted failing to stop, driving without insurance or a full licence and perverting the course of justice by torching the car after the crash with the help of accomplice Adam Beeney.

Beeney, 26, of Cotswold Close, Hastings, was sentenced in November to two years in jail after denying perverting the course of justice.