Chilling grin of biker after he mowed down and killed a schoolboy, eight, and left his father in a coma as they tried to use pedestrian crossing – as he pleads guilty to death by dangerous driving

• Nicholas Hopkins, 20, ploughed into and killed eight-year-old Mustafa Ahmed  

This is the grinning mugshot of a biker who mowed down and killed an eight-year-old boy and left his father in a coma as they walked to evening prayers.

Unlicensed and uninsured Nicholas Hopkins, 20, ploughed into Mustafa Ahmed as he crossed the road with his dad and 11-year-old brother.

All three were injured in the smash and needed hospital treatment but Mustafa died following the incident on Plumstead Road on February 19.

Following the collision, his dad Mohamed Mao, 49, was in an induced coma and needed surgery while Mustafa’s 11-year-old brother Ahmed suffered a ruptured liver.

Nicholas Hopkins (pictured) of Burrage Grove, Plumstead admitted causing death by dangerous driving

Mohamed Mao was taking his two sons Mustafa (right) and Ahmed (left) to evening prayers

The family were on their way to evening prayers at the time of the crash which happened outside the Greenwich Islamic Centre.

Mustafa’s dad and Ahmed have since been discharged but are still suffering from the long-term effects of their injuries.

Speaking to The Mirror about the incident, bus driver Mohamed, who has been unable to work since the crash, said his last memory of Mustafa was a few days before: ‘I went for a walk, just me and him, along the River Thames near our house.

‘We used to go along there a lot. That’s all I can remember.

‘I can’t remember anything, I don’t know what happened that night.

‘When I woke up, I didn’t remember anything, I didn’t know my wife, I didn’t know anybody.

‘I didn’t know the reason I was there.’

Paying tribute at the time, family friend and local councillor Asli Mohammed, said: ‘Mustafa was a happy, caring, compassionate young boy.

‘He loved making everybody in the room laugh.

‘His favourite thing was playing on the trampoline in his garden and he loved football too. He was an outdoor child, he loved his outdoor play time.’

According to reports, the lights were red as Mohamed and his family crossed.

It has also been reported that the junction has been raised as an issue with the council before as locals complain that motorists drive too fast and approach the lights almost blindly.

People also say the lights don’t stay red for long enough and there have been multiple other accidents.

Officers were called at approximately 7.30pm on Sunday, February 19 to reports of a motorcycle in collision with three pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing on Plumstead Road, near the junction with Lenton Street.

Family friend and councillor Asli Mohammed, said: ‘Mustafa (pictured) was a happy, caring, compassionate young boy’

Police, London Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance all attended the scene.

Nicholas Hopkins of Burrage Grove, Plumstead admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving unlicensed, causing death while uninsured, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and possession of Class B drugs at Inner London Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at the same court on January 26, 2024.

Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Mustafa’s family, who continue to struggle with the events of that day, as well as the officers and paramedics who were first on scene.

‘This is truly a tragic case, caused by the defendant’s reckless and dangerous driving. Mustafa was only eight years old, and had the rest of his life ahead of him.’

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