An MOT examiner driving on an expired licence ploughed into an 11-year-old boy as the yongster was crossing the road, killing him
David Lockyer, 74, of Vinson Close, Orpington, south-east London, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court charged with causing death by careless driving and causing death while driving a motor vehicle while unlicensed.
He was convicted by a jury on Thursday after a week-long trial, the Metropolitan Police said.
Josh Osborne died after being hit by a Ford Fiesta being driven by Lockyer on April 13 last year in Court Road, Orpington.
Police said Josh was crossing the road with three other boys when he was struck by Lockyer's car.
Lockyer did not slow, brake or react to the first two boys crossing the road in front of him and maintained his speed, police said.
He slowed to about 35mph after he collided with Josh but then accelerated away, with a following motorist going after him and confronting him at the next set of traffic lights.
Police said Lockyer returned to the scene where he was arrested and taken into custody.
Josh died in hospital on April 15, two days after the collision.
Officers found Lockyer had failed to renew his driving licence after it had expired and, despite being an MOT examiner, had not had a valid driving licence since January 2019.
Detective Sergeant Steve Cannings, of the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This is an absolutely tragic case in which the life of a young boy has been lost due to an act of careless driving.
"The anguish of Josh's family has been compounded by the fact Lockyer should not have been driving at the time of the collision as he did not have a valid licence.
"I would like to praise the dignity and courage of Josh's family who have attended every day of the trial and I support their efforts to ensure a case like this never happens again."
Lockyer will be sentenced on January 22.
