He was prevented from leaving the scene by members of the public

A 13-year-old girl suffered serious injuries including a “bleed on the brain” after being hit by a driver who was under the influence of cocaine, a court heard.

Emergency service responders found the girl pinned against railings in Northfield, Birmingham, on September 3, 2024.

She suffered injuries including a bleed on the brain, a depressed skull and a fractured spine.

Members of the public prevented the driver, David Campbell, from leaving the scene of the crash in Bell Hill.

One police officer arriving on the scene reported seeing Campbell “trying to put drugs in his mouth”. He was arrested and drugs were recovered.

Campbell was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drugs, possession of class A drugs, possession of an offensive weapon and driving with a proportion of a controlled drug over the legal limit.

During a police interview, Campbell claimed that he suffered with epilepsy and didn’t recall what had happened, and said that the crash happened due to a seizure.

It is understood that he was told several times by doctors not to drive due to his epilepsy, but he he continued to drive, failed to take his medication and failed to notify the DVLA of his condition.

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Campbell was driving under the influence of cocaine with traces of cannabis and there was also no trace of medication for his epilepsy, according to test results.

Campbell, 37 and of Bridgeburn Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison on Wednesday (October 14).

He was also banned from driving for six years and two months which will start from when he is released from prison.

PC Aroon Aftab, from West Midlands Police’s Road Traffic Investigation Team, said: "Campbell had a choice that day and he chose to drive under the influence of drugs. He also knew that he was not taking his epilepsy medication and had chosen to ignore the advice of doctors.”

“The choices he made, and his selfish actions caused serious injury to a young girl who was just going about her day waiting to cross the road.

"I want to thank the members of the public who helped that day. They helped to keep the young girl calm in what must have been a terrifying ordeal for her.

“I hope that this sentence is a lesson, for people to think and make the right choice before they drive.”