Man jailed after Birmingham crash leaves boy with brain injury
- Published
A family of five were injured in the crash caused by David Poulton
A man has been jailed after he caused a crash that left a five-year-old boy with a brain injury.
David Poulton was trying to flee police in a stolen car on 30 April when he ploughed into a VW T-Cross carrying a family of five in Birmingham.
The boy suffered a bleed on the brain and is now learning to talk again. A three-year old boy also in the car suffered less serious injuries.
Poulton was jailed for six years and banned from driving for 18 years.
Before the crash, Poulton, 41, sped away from traffic officers when they spotted him in the Ford EcoSport near Dartmouth Circus.
The car had been stolen in February from a Morrisons car park in Coventry.
Poulton reached speeds of up to 80mph during the pursuit, while running red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.
David Poulton, 41, has been jailed for causing the crash
He was on the wrong side of Heartlands Parkway when he crashed into the family's vehicle at around 14:00 BST. The family were visiting their in-laws for Eid and were heading to Star City.
Poulton, of no fixed address, was arrested after the crash and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
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.
He also admitted possession of cannabis, and offences he was wanted for at the time - making threats and criminal damage. He has more than 40 previous convictions.
David Poulton caused the crash while he was fleeing police
Sgt Richard Adams, of Birmingham CID, said it was an appalling case of dangerous driving.
"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.
"It was pure luck that he or other people weren't killed. Thankfully the family involved are all making good recoveries."
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