A YOUNG man left permanently brain damaged after being hit by a car while celebrating his birthday has won £1.25m damages.

Tyrone Tredget, now 28, was run down by a motorist in Kent Road, Dartford, after a night out with friends on his 23rd birthday, the High Court in London heard.

Mr Tredget, who worked as a section manager at a supermarket, was struck by a Renault GT Turbo driven by Michael Alger, of Awliscombe Road, Welling, on January 19, 1996, at 1.30am.

He suffered massive head injuries in the accident and was taken to the intensive care unit at Atkinson Morley Hospital, Wimbledon, where he stayed for more than a week.

Mr Tredget was in hospital for another seven months after this and was treated for a compound skull fracture, a broken left knee and elbow and cuts to his face.

As well as being brain-damaged, he was left blind in his left eye and can only walk very slowly. His speech was also affected and he has behavioural difficulties.

Following the treatment in hospital, he went to live at Elm Park Rehabilitation Centre, in Colchester, Essex.

He has now moved into a purpose-built home in Kent where his grandparents look after him.

Approving the settlement at the High Court, Mr Justice Leveson heaped praise on Mr Tredget's grandmother, Margaret Blackmore, for the care she has given him. Mrs Blackmore, who attended the hearing with her husband, Henry, declined to comment.

Alger had pleaded guilty at Dartford Magistrates' Court, on November 1, 1996, to driving without due care and attention.

The court banned him from driving for a year and he was ordered to do 100 hours' community service.