A LEIGH teenager left with a "Jekyll and Hyde" character after he was knocked down in a road accident 10 years ago has been awarded £3m.

Kyle Sutton, who is now 16, has been left with the mental age of an eight-year-old and suffers from severe behavioural problems.

He suffers from depression and violent rages, cannot read or write, has trouble walking and needs round-the-clock supervision.

His mother Hilary Sutton said: "Who wants to be a millionaire? I'd sooner have my son back."

The damages which were awarded by AXA Insurance are aimed at improving the quality of his life.

Mrs Sutton says his aggressive behaviour is a result of the head injuries he suffered in the accident in Laburnum Avenue, Leigh - just yards from his former home in Maple Crescent.

She has since moved into a bigger house in Bolton so Kyle can have some more space to himself because he will never be able to live on his own.

The money will pay for his day-to-day living costs including bills, clothes and shoes because he will never be able to work.

Kyle, who was six at the time of the accident, started smoking at the age of seven, has experimented with drugs and been in trouble with the police.

Mrs Sutton said: "I wish the accident had never happened. I don't want the money -- it is for Kyle.

"I would give it all away tomorrow if I could have my son back.

"He was a bubbly little boy, always laughing and riding about on his bicycle.

"He hardly ever laughs any more.

"The money will never bring him back but it could improve the quality of his life.

"When he had the accident, I prayed that Kyle would come back to me and that I have to be grateful for."

Kyle was on his way to watch the May Day celebrations in 1993 with his dad Eric and his sister Ryhanan when he was thrown 20 feet over the bonnet of a car. He was knocked unconscious and suffered serious head and leg injuries.

The youngster was taken to Leigh Infirmary and later transferred to the intensive care unit at Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester where he remained in a coma for 14 days.

His parents, who were separated, kept a vigil at his bedside as they waited for him to regain consciousness.

The youngster underwent surgery to have a metal plate inserted in his right leg and had to learn to talk, walk and feed himself again.

When Kyle returned to the family home, a month later, his family realised he was a changed little boy.

He had been a pupil at local primary school but following the accident he was sent to Mere Oaks Special School in Standish.

After 12 months, Mrs Sutton moved to Bolton where she met her new partner dental technician Harry Ross.

During the next nine years, Kyle attended a number of mainstream and special schools but each time, he was expelled because of his disruptive and violent behaviour.

He would grow increasingly frustrated and would lose his temper because he couldn't use his right arm properly or hold a pen.

He had limited reading skills, very little attention span and short term memory lose, which caused him to fall further and further behind in his studies.

Kyle now spends his days playing computer games. Although he says he would love to be a chef, he will never be able to hold down a job.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Sutton said: "I don't know how I have coped over the last 10 years.

"I wish someone could have spent some time with Kyle and taken him out on trips to give me a break.

"I have had to look after him 24 hours a day.

"He could be nice one minute and aggressive the next -- a real Jekyll and Hyde.

"Kyle can be very polite, has good manners and is very helpful.

"But the slightest thing can make him change. He has the mind of an eight-year-old and throws tantrums if he can't get his own way."

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"He used to love cooking at school but when he was asked to wash up, he went into a rage so he couldn't do it any more.

"We have tried to discipline him and make him understand his behaviour is wrong but it is no good.

"As he has got older, he has got stronger.

"The new house is already a more peaceful environment because Kyle has his own space and does not get so angry.

"I can't believe it has taken so long to settle the case.

"Kyle had to see so many different doctors and each time there was a long waiting list. It went on and on.

"If we had received the money years ago, it would have made such a difference to Kyle.

"I couldn't afford to take him out or send him on school trips. I couldn't work because I was constantly being called up to school.

"Kyle just wants to be a normal teenager and I am always telling him he is.

"When he acts childishly, people tell him to act his age but he is. Everyone has labelled him a naughty boy but he can't help it.

"He gets very frustrated when he can't do things and just lashes out."

Mrs Sutton said Kyle's behaviour has had an affect on her other three children Erika, aged 19, Dale, aged 17 and 15-year-old Rhyanan.

"Kyle has had all the attention and the others have missed out.

"It was difficult for them to see Kyle misbehaving and getting away with it.

"They didn't understand why they couldn't do the same."

Mrs Sutton's partner Harry added: "Sometimes Hilary just breaks down and cries.

"It has been very difficult for all of us.

"We have a small group of friends we trust and they are very supportive.

"Without them, there would be no escape from it."