A stretch limousine driver who caused a motorway pile-up that killed a young child has been warned he is facing a substantial jail sentence.

John Woolston crashed into a line of cars on the M25, near Crockenhill, “skittling them out of the way like ninepins”.

The two-year-old victim, Danyal Razzaq, was being driven to a party in Gravesend in his mother’s Renault Clio when the tragedy happened.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that traffic slowed to a halt because of roadworks, but the Hummer Limo “carried straight on”.

Edmund Fowler, prosecuting, said Woolston was a London bus driver who also worked for a car hire firm, driving the luxury left-hand drive car with the registration BIG 9202, weighing more than five tonnes.

On July 14 last year, he had gone to Dagenham-based Just Limos and was due to collect a group of men to go to Brighton.

Danyal’s mother Shafica Macgregor, of Hampton, Middlesex, was driving him and two brothers when she saw signs warning of possible delays at junction three.

She passed the Hummer and could see the traffic slowing down. She came to a halt and saw the limousine in her mirror.

Mr Fowler said: “The next thing she knew was coming round in the car, which had been crushed around her.

“She saw Danyal with a wound to his head.”

Seven cars had been skittled out of the way by the Hummer and minor injuries were caused to others.

Mrs Macgregor’s car ended up behind the Hummer after bouncing off the central reservation. Danyal, who had been in a child seat, died at the scene.

Woolston, of Wyndham Road, East Ham, East London, denied causing death by dangerous driving, but was convicted by a 10-2 majority on Tuesday.

Adjourning sentence for four weeks and remanding Woolston in custody, Judge James O’Mahony said: “As you know, you face a substantial sentence.

“A young life has been lost due to what the jury found to be your dangerous driving and I am afraid you are going to have to pay the penalty.”