SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR DRUG DRIVER WHO HIT A 5-YEAR-OLD BOY WHILST '5 TIMES OVER THE LEGAL DRUG DRIVING LIMIT'

At the time of the accident, it was revealed that the defendant had traces of a cocaine-based product in his system, which he claimed had been taken the night before.

The accident happened in October 2017 on Stern Avenue, in Ordsall.

Mr Higgins was not prosecuted for dangerous or careless driving after hitting the child which ran out into the road without warning.

Higgins told officers "he did not feel his driving had been impaired". The court was told that he was not responsible for the boy’s life-changing injuries.

After admitting aggravated vehicle taking (A Grey Kia Cee'd), drug driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence, Mr Higgins was handed a suspended sentence.