Driver jailed after taking '20 lines of cocaine' before killing 3-year-old girl in crash

A reckless van driver has been jailed after mowing down a three-year-old girl in while high on "at least 20 lines of cocaine", with her heartbroken family paying tribute to the "centre of our world".

Rawal Rehman pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after hitting little with his Mercedes Sprinter van after crashing into a tram in Manchester. The youngster, known as Lulu, was rushed to hospital but tragically from her injuries after the crash, which happened while she was walking with her parents on a family visit to the city on February 22. In a devastating victim impact statement read out in court, the family spoke of her "kind heart" and "joyful spirit".

Rehman, 36, left the scene of the crash in Mosley Street at about 10am before he was later arrested. Today (May 27), he was sentenced to 12 years in jail by Judge Alan Conrad KC at Manchester Crown Court. The previously heard that Rehman had visited two massage parlours in the city in the early hours of February 22 and had taken "at least 20 lines of cocaine" in seven hours.

CCTV of the incident was played to the court, showing the family walking along the pavement, with Lulu between her parents, holding their hands. Rehman failed to stop at the junction, despite large stop signs and warnings written on the road.

The side of his van was then hit by an oncoming tram, forcing his vehicle on to the pavement and into the family, knocking the parents aside. Rehman, who had his hood up, got out of the van and walked around the vehicle before retrieving his phone and leaving the scene.

Passing sentence, the judge said: "Lulu, in her short life, brought enormous joy to those who knew and loved her.

"The manner of her death has caused continuing lasting heartbreak for her family.

"No sentence that I can impose will equate to the loss of a young life.

"In this case, in addition to the harm suffered by the family, the terrible spectacle of this awful collision was witnessed by many and will have affected them, in particular the driver of the tram who had no chance of avoiding the impact."

The judge said eyewitnesses had seen the van driving "fairly fast" along the road, making no attempt to slow down.

He added: "Thinking of only yourself, you fled, leaving Lulu and her parents there, in contrast to those who stayed at the scene and tried to assist."

Prosecutor Rachel Shenton told the court the van's MOT had lapsed and there were a number of defects with the vehicle, though none was serious enough to have contributed to the incident.

Rehman had a number of previous convictions, including being jailed in 2017 for three years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after he torched a car involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision which killed a 25-year-old man in Chorlton, Manchester.

David Toal, appearing for the defence, said his client had admitted to things the prosecution had no evidence for, which showed he was taking responsibility, and had planned to hand himself in to the police before his arrest.

He said: "An aggravating factor is that he left the scene - there is no excuse for this.

"His explanation is that he panicked and that panic turned into shock when he learned via social media that a young girl had lost her life."

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Lulu's family, from Burnley, Lancashire, said:"Lulu was our only child and the centre of our world.

"Her joyful spirit, vivid imagination, and kind heart touched everyone who knew her.

"At just three years old, she brought more light and love than we ever thought possible. Her life was full of promise, and her loss is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

"No parent should ever have to witness the death of their child. The impact of that single, devastating moment has rippled through every part of our existence, emotionally, physically, and financially."

They added: "We remain united in our grief and in our love. Lulu's memory lives on in us - in every act of kindness, in every moment of courage, and in every step we take forward.

"We will continue to speak her name, to celebrate who she was, and to ensure that her light is never forgotten."

Detective Inspector Andrew Page, of Greater Manchester Police, said what Lulu's family have been through is "incomprehensible".

"This was a tragic incident in which a young girl sadly lost her life," he said.

"Instead of facing up to the consequences of his actions, Rehman decided to flee the scene and avoided the authorities for two days.

"In his police interview, he accepted that he had been driving at the time of the collision but claimed his driving had not been dangerous. When asked about fleeing the scene, he claimed to have panicked.

"Rehman's callous actions on that fatal day have changed a family's lives forever. This tragedy was completely avoidable and Rehman must now face the consequences of his actions."

Following the guilty verdict, Abbie Clarke, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "This was a devastating incident which shocked our community, and our thoughts go out to Lulu's family who must bear this unimaginable loss.

"Rawal Rehman ignored the stop signs and tram warning signs when he drove straight into the path of an oncoming tram, and it is clear his driving fell far short of what is expected of a competent and careful driver.

"Rehman failed to take responsibility for his actions. He fled the scene in a taxi and denied that he drove dangerously in interview, only accepting responsibility on his third hearing before the court.

"He must now face the consequences for his role in this wholly avoidable tragedy."