A DRUG driver crashed his car leaving a seven-year-old passenger with life-changing head injuries.

Shane Taylor was driving under the influence of a byproduct of cocaine when he crashed his BMW on the A259 Marsh Road in Hooe.

The car left the carriageway and hit roadside trees and signs at about 2.45pm on Friday, March 30, last year.

The seven-year-old boy, who was sat in the back of Taylor’s car, sustained serious, life-changing head injuries.

But, police said he is understood to be making good progress.

A 26-year-old woman who was sat in the front-seat also suffered multiple injuries in the crash.

Both she and the child were treated at King’s College Hospital, London.

Taylor was also hurt and was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, for serious head injuries and fractured limbs.

The unemployed 33-year-old, from Levett Avenue, Polegate, appeared before Hove Crown Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to both offences. He was jailed for three years.

Taylor was also disqualified from driving for 51 months, with the ban beginning when he is released, and ordered to take an extended driving test before re-applying for a licence.

Following Taylor’s sentencing, PC Doug Park, of Sussex Police’s serious collisions investigation unit, said: “Sadly, this case underlines what can happen when driving at speed in adverse weather conditions after having consumed an illegal drug.

“All the car’s occupants were badly injured and it was only by sheer luck that no-one died and no other motorists were involved.”