THE HIT-and-run driver who knocked down toddler Levi Bleasdale has been jailed for flouting his five-year driving ban.

And the family of the youngster have reacted with fury at the news the banned driver has been back behind the wheel less than a year after he was sent to prison following the accident which killed her.

Mohammed Hussain was arrested at 1.15am yesterday after he was caught by police driving along Rossendale Road, Burnley, in a Citroen Saxo belonging to his friend.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance at Burnley Magistrates' Court yesterday, and was sentenced to 42 days in jail.

The court heard how a roadside breath test had shown Hussain had been drinking, but a subsequent breathalyser test at the police station read below the legal alcohol limit.

Defending, Rachel Adamson said her client knew he had made a "very foolish decision" in borrowing a friend's car after somebody had left with his house keys and he wanted to get them back rather than wake his family up.

Ms Adamson said: "There can never be any excuse for it, and my client fully accepts that."

District Judge Begley refused her plea for a community penalty, and said to Hussain: "I have no doubt that when the five-year ban was imposed you were told what would happen if you drove, but lo and behold, within 12 months you are on the road, having been drinking.

"The only saving grace is that you have pleaded guilty, I can find no other mitigating factor."

Sentencing, Mr Begley said that with good behaviour, Hussain could be out of jail within three weeks.

Bu the family of three-year-old Levi has slammed the lenient sentence as "ridiculous".

Levi died in September 2005 after the stolen, uninsured care Hussain was driving struck her in Ormerod Road, near Burnley College.

Her mum Kirsty Ryan and baby sister Brogan narrowly escaped injury in the accident.

Hussain, of Thurston Street, Burnley, admitted careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident and was jailed for 12 weeks, and disqualified from driving for five years.

The careless driving charge was only punishable by fine.

Levi's granddad Michael Ryan said he was disgusted that Hussain had been allowed back on the streets again.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Ryan said: "He only got 12 weeks for killing Levi.

"He should have got a longer sentence in the first place so he wasn't allowed back on the streets.

"He knows from last time that a driving offence means he will only a get a few weeks in jail, so that's hardly going to stop him is it?

"At the end of the day he's doing exactly the same again, pleading guilty knowing he'll only get a little sentence.

"What are they going to do when he does the same to another kid, give him another 12 weeks? It is just ridiculous."

Mr Ryan campaigned last year to change the laws that would have given Hussain a tougher sentence.

He contacted Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, and submitted a petition with more than 2,000 names to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Telegraph supported the campaign, as did Burnley MP Kitty Ussher.

Legislation is currently going through Parliament to create a new offence of causing death by careless driving, punishable by up to five years.