A 27-year-old London man has admitted causing serious injury to a schoolboy after failing to stop for police in Ipswich.

Michael Neto failed to stop his Renault Clio when required by officers in Cauldwell Road at about 8.30am on Thursday.

During the ensuing pursuit along Halliwell Road, Neto’s car collided with a child of high school age, who was taken by ambulance to Ipswich Hospital with a suspected broken leg and facial injuries.

Neto’s car was also reported to have crashed into another vehicle and a garden wall in Goring Road.

Officers arrested Neto on suspicion of multiple offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

He was taken to Martlesham Heath police investigation centre for questioning, charged and kept in custody until his appearance at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.

Neto, of Baldwins Gardens, Clerkenwell, London, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police constable or traffic warden, failing to stop after a road accident, driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle without insurance. He also admitted possession of a quantity of cannabis.

Road closures were in place at Goring Road and the junction of Halliwell Road and Lattice Avenue while investigations took place.

Suffolk Constabulary referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Witnesses reported seeing police putting out signs to shut off Goring Road, off Woodbridge Road East.

Keith Morrill, 67, who lives in Lattice Avenue, said: “I saw the police cars come down the road and heard the sirens at about 8.30am. It seemed to be some sort of accident or something.

“I was walking up Goring Road but I couldn’t get through the police had closed it off.”

Rhys Pugh, 17, who lives in Lattice Avenue, opposite Goring Road, said: “I had just walked out of the house the police were there already at about 10.50am.

“You don’t normally expect anything like that to happen here. It’s quite a quiet neighbourhood and I can’t remember the last time something like this happened here.”

Neto was remanded to appear at crown court at a later date.