It was ‘pure luck’ no one died in the crash, caused by David Poulton (Picture: SWNS)
A career criminal who left a five-year-old boy with a brain injury after causing a horrific car crash during a high-speed chase has been jailed.Â
David Poulton, 41, drove on the wrong side of the road and sped through red traffic lights at 80mph while trying to evade police. Â
He ploughed a stolen Ford EcoSport into a VW T-Cross carrying three adults and two boys on Heartlands Parkway in Birmingham, just before 2pm on April 30. Â
The family of five had travelled to the West Midlands to visit their in-laws for Eid and were on their way to the Star City leisure and entertainment centre. Â
A five-year-old boy suffered a bleed on the brain and is now undergoing rehabilitation to learn how to talk again. Â
His younger brother, aged three, escaped with less serious injuries, West Midlands Police said. Â
The three adults suffered injuries including a broken femur. Â
Poulton – who has more than 40 previous convictions – was arrested and taken to hospital with minor injuries after the crash. Â
The aftermath of the crash on April 30 (Picture: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
The car was stolen from a Morrisons car park in Coventry. Â
Poulton was wanted for making threats and criminal damage at the time of his arrest. Â
He admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, disqualified driving, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance, handling stolen goods and failing to provide a specimen of blood for analysis.Â
The crash happened as Poulton tried to evade police on an 80mph chase (Picture: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
Poulton, of no fixed address, was jailed for a total of six years and banned from the road for 18 years at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday. Â
He also admitted possession of cannabis, as well as the offences he was wanted for at the time. Â
Speaking after the sentence was passed, Sergeant Richard Adams, of Birmingham CID, said: ‘This was an appalling case of dangerous driving. Â
‘He showed a complete disregard for other drivers, and once he decided to speed the wrong way down a busy road, a collision was inevitable.Â
‘It was pure luck that he or other people weren’t killed.Â
‘Thankfully the family involved are all making good recoveries.’ Â
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A five-year-old boy suffered a bleed on the brain and is now undergoing rehabilitation to learn how to talk again. Â Â