A drug driver who caused a serious crash on the A127, which left a woman with a life-changing head injury, has been jailed and banned from driving.

Anthony Purcell was driving a black Ford C-Max along the London-bound side of the A127 in Southend, near to Kent Elms Corner, at around 4.40am on November 11, last year, when he veered across the road, over the central reservation and hit a white Mini Cooper coming the other way.

The crash caused significant damage to the Mini and left the driver with a life-changing head injury.

When officers arrived at the scene Purcell, 37, of Mountfield Road, London E6, confirmed he was driving the Ford at the time and while he had permission to drive it, he wasn’t insured.

A blood test later showed he had cocaine and Benzoylecgonine – a major metabolite of cocaine – in his system.

He was arrested and appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he admitted with careless driving, two counts of drug driving, and driving with no insurance.

He was jailed for 16 weeks with a further 12 months on licence and disqualified for driving for three years.

Investigating officer PC Tina Quinlivan said: “Drugs impact your ability behind the wheel and puts lives at risk.

“It’s reckless, it’s irresponsible, and it’s totally unacceptable.

“Anthony Purcell’s actions have caused injuries that his victim may never fully recover from. 

“He made a choice to get behind the wheel after taking cocaine. That decision will affect the driver of the Mini for the rest of her life.

“He has at least admitted his crimes which will prevent his victim from re-living the ordeal through a trial.

“I hope this case acts as a wake-up call for anyone considering getting behind the wheel after taking drugs.

“Your actions could see you banned from the road and locked up in prison. Even worse, you could change someone’s life forever”.