A HIT-AND-RUN driver has been handed a suspended prison sentence for an accident that left a cyclist with serious injuries.

Alexander William Coombes, formerly of Worthing Road, Rustington, was driving a blue Renault Megane north on the A29 in Shripney, near Bognor, when he hit a 45-year-old local man riding a bicycle and left him lying at the roadside.

The man was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he underwent several operations and months of rehabilitation.

Coombes, now of Guildford in Surrey, was sentenced at Chichester Crown Court on Friday for the crash which happened at 5.45am on February 5, 2014.

Following the sentence, Sergeant Rob Baldwin of the Sussex Roads Policing Unit said: "It would have been obvious to Coombes that he had been involved in a serious collision.

"But he failed to stop, leaving the cyclist seriously injured at the side of the road and in need of urgent medical attention.

"Fortunately we were able to quickly identify the vehicle and driver involved and officers found the Megane abandoned some five miles away in Barham with serious damage.

"It was clear that Coombes had driven his vehicle in a dangerous condition over this distance, with an obliterated tyre, damaged wing mirror and missing bodywork."

Coombes admitted speeding while listening to loud music, maintained that he had been unaware that he had struck someone, but during a special court hearing last November the judge refused to accept this.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and having no insurance.

He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work, was disqualified from driving for 15 months and required to take an extended re-test.

He was also told to pay £6,382 compensation to the victim and costs totalling £3,500.