The case was heard at Hamilton Sheriff Court

The child was left with crippling brain injuries from which he will never recover after he was hit by the car last August.

Edward Scott, 52, knocked the child down while he was on his way to buy a lottery ticket from his local newsagent.

He walked free from Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday after being ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service.

Good behaviour

He was also banned him from driving for 10 years and ordered to pay �2,000 in compensation to the boy's family.

Sheriff William Gibson said Scott, a delivery driver from Uddingston, Lanarkshire, had avoided prison because of his previous good behaviour and the fact that he had shown remorse for his actions.

The family of the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attacked the verdict as a "joke" and said they would give the money owed in compensation to charity.

His mother said: "I just hate the sight of the man. I don't want the money, I'm going to give it to charity, I don't want anything to do with it.

"What's �2,000 for a wee boy who's sitting in a chair and can't see, can't walk and can't talk? All he can do is hear."

Doctors said her son had suffered injuries to parts of the brain which control thinking, movement and basic functions such as vision and swallowing.

Twice legal limit

The youngster is unable to feed himself and at risk of complications such as chest infections. His lifespan may be shortened.

Scott was convicted by a jury of driving dangerously and causing severe injuries to the youngster at the end of a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court last month.

The court was told he had more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood at the time.

The boy's father said his son was fetching an ice cream from a van parked in the street when the accident happened.

Scott's defence advocate Jane Farquharson said the accused got into his car to go to a nearby newsagent after realising he had forgotten to buy a lottery ticket.

Despite having drunk five bottles of strong lager during the afternoon, Scott believed he was fit to drive as he had had a meal and slept before setting out, Miss Farquharson said.