A TEENAGER left with a "Jekyll and Hyde" character after a road accident 10 years ago, has been awarded damages of £3 million.

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

He cannot read or write, has trouble walking and needs round-the-clock supervision.

Today, commenting on the huge pay-out, 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 said Kyle's aggressive behaviour is a result of the head injuries he sustained in the accident which happened when Kyle was six-years-old.

She has now moved into a bigger house so Kyle can have some more space to himself. Kyle will never be able to live on his own. The money will pay for his day-to-day living costs.

Mrs Sutton, of Deane, 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."

Kyle was involved in the accident on his way to watch a Maypole procession at his school in 1993. He was with his dad Eric and his sister Ryhanan when he was thrown 20ft over the bonnet of a car. He suffered serious head and leg injuries in the accident in Laburnum Avenue, Leigh.

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

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

Kyle 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 in Maypole Crescent, Leigh, 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 Georgina Court, 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 lose his temper because he could not use his right arm properly or hold a pen.

He had limited reading skills, very little attention span and short-term memory loss, which caused him to fall 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."

She added: "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 did not understand why they couldn't do the same."