Man pleads guilty to mounting Bourges Boulevard pavement and running down young Peterborough family while high on drugs

A Peterborough man has this man pleaded guilty to mounting the pavement with his car and hitting a young family, causing them serious injury, while high on drugs.
Elisha in hospitalElisha in hospital
Elisha in hospital

James Millard, 23, of High Street, Fletton, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and being over the prescribed limit of cannabis and cocaine at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court this morning, Wednesday June 21.

10-year-old Elisha Hills-Steedman and her mum were hit by Millard’s car as they walked back from a family trip to Peterborough Museum at about 3.30pm on Sunday, February 12 this year.

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The family, from Bretton, were on the Bourges Boulevard pavement near the Park Inn hotel when they were struck by the Ford Focus. Elisha suffered a fractured skull in the incident. Mum Michelle Steedman (40) who was also badly hurt

The scene of the crash on Bourges BoulevardThe scene of the crash on Bourges Boulevard
The scene of the crash on Bourges Boulevard

Millard then fled the scene in his car.

Michelle Steedman said: “We had been on the trip to the museum and were walking along the pavement to get back to the car park.

“My husband and other daughter were a bit ahead of us as the car park ticket was running out. We were laughing and joking as we walked, when the next thing I woke up on the pavement. I saw Elisha lying 100 yards away on the floor in front of me.

“I didn’t know what had happened - I had not heard or seen the car at all. I ran over, and when I saw her I didn’t think she was going to make it.

Hit and run victim Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) back at home from hospitalHit and run victim Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) back at home from hospital
Hit and run victim Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) back at home from hospital
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“There was lots of blood and bruising. She had an 8cm cut on her head, which was very deep, a chipped tooth, and she had lots of grazes on her face where she had skidded on the floor. She was unconscious. I was holding her head.

“My husband hadn’t even got back to us as he had seen the car just driving off but had not seen it hit us. As he turned round to see if we were okay, I was shouting and screaming that we needed an ambulance and we needed police.

“Some passers-by had already called 999 and the ambulance was there really quickly.”

Michelle said Elisha’s injuries were made worse as she suffers from KBG Syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder, which made her ‘even more fragile’.

Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) with family Annalise Hills-Steedman (6), Celeste Hills (16) and parents Michelle and Andy Steedman recovering after the crash in February.Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) with family Annalise Hills-Steedman (6), Celeste Hills (16) and parents Michelle and Andy Steedman recovering after the crash in February.
Elisha Hills-Steedman (10) with family Annalise Hills-Steedman (6), Celeste Hills (16) and parents Michelle and Andy Steedman recovering after the crash in February.
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Michelle said: “Elisha was unconscious for a couple of minutes, but then she opened her eyes.

“No-one had told me what had happened as they were phoning police. A few people stopped when they saw me holding her.

“We were taken to Peterborough City Hospital and Elisha had to have her head stitched up as they had to stop the bleeding.

“She had a really bad fracture and she had to have a CT scan on her head and her neck.

The scene of the crash on Bourges BoulevardThe scene of the crash on Bourges Boulevard
The scene of the crash on Bourges Boulevard
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“It showed she had no brain injuries which was a good thing.”

Elisha was discharged from hospital two days later on Tuesday, February 14.

Michelle also needed hospital treatment, with bruising on her neck, throat, shoulder, spine and ribs. She also had to have a wound on her head glued back together and had to return to hospital as she was suffering from concussion.