A joyrider who was drunk and high on drugs when he ploughed into a parade of children at the New Addington Christmas Lights ceremony has been jailed.

Louis Browning, 20, from King Henry's Drive, New Addington, was sentenced to a maximum 20 months in prison despite having 30 prior convictions for driving offences, criminal damage and abusive behaviour.

Croydon Crown Court heard he had just been released from a four-month prison sentence when he drove into the crowd in a stolen car knocking over 13-year-old Bradley Humphrey and Taylor Jenner, who was nine when the accident happened last November.

Taylor’s dad Ian said he was “fuming” about the length of the sentence.

Browning had pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.

He also ran into a police officer PC Keith Gray who bravely attempted to stop the car by smashing in the windscreen with his baton.

PC Gray’s spine was crushed in the accident and he has still not been able to return to work.

Pauline Thompson prosecuting described how Browning drove erratically towards the parade from Arnhem Drive and into the crowd revving his engine aggressively and moving forward despite the road being closed and full of young children and families.

She said he was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time.

She said: “Deborah Humphrey had Bradley with her and one of her daughters.

“She heard a car engine being revved hard, she turned to look and saw that the card had come within four feet of where she was standing.”

She told the court that Mrs Humphrey heard people screaming and saw Taylor Jenner, who had been knocked down by Browning, on the road.

She ran over to help, unaware that her son, on the other side of the road had also been hurt when the car ran over his foot.

Louis Browning drove off down Overbury Crescent after running over PC Gray but found about 45 minutes later parked in the Castle Hill area in the stolen car by the police.

He tried to escape by driving away but was caught when he crashed into a lamppost.

The court heard Browning was a prolific offender who had 30 prior convictions from 33 offences.

His first conviction was in 2004 when he was just 16.

He committed most of his crimes while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the court heard.

Browning became a father for the first time while in jail and has a four-month-old son.

However Judge N J Ainley was not swayed by the argument that the birth of his son had changed his life.

In handing out the sentence he said: “You have an appalling record of driving crime even although you are only 20.

“It seems to me that these are offences right at the top end of the scale.

“Be in no doubt that if you are recalled before this court again, the sentences that you receive will be consecutive and substantial.”

Mr Jenner told the Croydon Guardian: “I am absolutely fuming about the sentence. If there was not some guardian angel around that evening I could have lost three kids.

“I don’t think that amount of time can make him realise or understand what he could have done let alone what he did do.

“If he has done this kind of thing before who is to say he won’t do it again? Next time someone’s kid might not be so lucky.”

For two counts of aggravated vehicle taking Browning was sentenced to 20 months and 16 months in jail.

For two counts of driving while disqualified he was sentenced to five months and four months in prison.

All of the sentences are to be served concurrently.

He was also banned from driving for five years and will have to take an extended driving test before he is allowed to drive again.