Driver jailed for killing pedestrian Nicholas Brown on Hagley Road West in Birmingham

A driver who killed a pedestrian as he crossed a busy Birmingham road has been jailed for seven years.

Earl Falconer of Woodbury Road, Northfield was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday (10 January).

The 32-year-old who would have been 30 at the time of the collision was driving in excess of 70 miles per hour on Hagley Road West, Birmingham on the evening of 27 November 2020.

Even though the speed limit was 40 mph Earl Falconer was driving almost twice the speed limit. He failed to see a pedestrian who was using the crossing to walk across the road near to Dovegate Surgery on Hagley Road West.

Nicholas Brown, who was aged 46, was hit by Falconer’s car and died at the scene.

When Falconer was arrested he was found to have cannabis in his system. He will now serve a minimum of three and half years, has been disqualified from driving for four years and will have to take an extended driving test before he can get his licence back.

What has West Midlands Police said about the case?

The investigating officer Detective Constable Katie Lees, from the force’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “It’s taken over two years for the court case to conclude and I hope the family of Nicholas can now get some closure.

“Earl Falconer was driving under the influence of drugs and almost at double the speed limit. Both factors played a huge part in his judgement. His recklessness led to an innocent person losing their life and justice for his actions have now been served.”