Ipswich driver jailed over girl's life-changing head injury

Adam Darbous hit a Daihatsu Sirion with a family of four inside while trying to evade police

A man has been jailed after young girl received a life-changing head injury when he ploughed into a parked car.

Adam Darbous, 23, of Cecil Road, in Ipswich, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the crash in February.

After failing to stop for police in London Road, Ipswich, he hit a Daihatsu Sirion with a family of four inside, on Burlington Road.

A judge at Ipswich Crown Court jailed him for a total of 14 months.

He had also admitted possession with intent to supply class B drugs at an earlier hearing.

'Deplorable actions'

Darbous had driven at speeds of more than 60mph in a black BMW to evade police in the residential area before hitting the parked car at about 19:00 GMT and fleeing the scene.

An 11-year-old girl, inside the parked car, sustained a serious, life-changing head injury and her parents and younger brother sustained minor injuries.

After the collision, a large quantity of cannabis was found in the the BMW.

Just before 21:30 GMT the next day, Darbous handed himself in to police custody.

An 11-year-old girl sustained a life-changing head injury in the crash in Burlington Road, police said

Darbous was also disqualified from driving for five years.

He was also sentenced to four months jail for the drug offence, to be served at the same time as the driving sentence.

Det Ch Insp Chris Hinitt, from Suffolk Police, said: "It is clear from the manner of his driving that Darbous was attempting to evade police due to the cannabis within his vehicle.

"This was a horrific incident for the family injured as a result of his deplorable actions.

"The young girl is still suffering as a result of this collision, having sustained a significant head injury which is likely to impact her for the rest of her life."

He added that while the sentence "will not turn back time" he hoped it brought "some comfort to the family that he has been held to account for his actions".