A drug driver who ran a red light and hit and seriously injured a 10-year-old boy has been jailed.

Danny Butt was driving his Seat Leon along Woodlands Road, Gillingham, over the 30mph speed limit.

He went through a red light at the junction with Cornwallis Avenue and struck a child who had started to cross the carriageway.

The boy suffered serious head injuries and was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

Butt was arrested at the scene on the evening of June 24, 2022, and provided a specimen of blood for analysis once in custody.

This later proved he had been driving while over the prescribed limit for cannabis and also showed the presence of cocaine.

Butt, of Talma Road, Brixton, London, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court.

Yesterday (February 12), the 42-year-old was sentenced to three years and 10 months’ imprisonment.

On his release from prison, he will be disqualified from driving for three years and have to take an extended retest.

Serious collision investigator, DC Lee Berridge, said: “Butt got behind the wheel of a car knowing he was unfit to drive due to his misuse of controlled drugs.

“He would have realised he posed a risk to other road users and pedestrians but proceeded, nonetheless, to drive in a very dangerous manner.

“Furthermore, Butt intentionally tried to beat a red traffic light and this reckless decision has altered the path of a young child's future.

“His victim suffered appalling injuries and is gradually recovering whilst making adjustments to his day-to-day life and receiving ongoing medical assessments.

“Butt is now quite rightly in prison and should be thoroughly ashamed of his actions.”