A bus driver who killed a young girl after falling asleep at the wheel has been jailed.

Martin Asolo-Ogugua had taken cannabis the night before he mounted the pavement and ploughed into nine-year-old Ada Bicakci, who was riding her bicycle with her family.

The 23-year-old, of Banfield Road, Southwark, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court today (Monday) for causing the death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

Police were called to Watling Street near the junction with Halcot Avenue in Bexleyheath at 9am on August 3 last year where a bus was reported to have hit two children.

Ada’s brother was not seriously hurt, but his sibling was left with catastrophic injuries.

The Turkish-British national was taken to hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, died two days later.

Asolo-Ogugua failed a drugs test at the scene and was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving and drug-driving.

Detectives found CCTV that showed the bus driven by Asolo-Ogugua had left its depot around 8.45am on the day of the incident.

Officers followed its route west on London Road, with Ada on a footpath heading east on Watling Street, and pinpointed the moment Asolo-Ogugua fell asleep, with the bus free to drift across the carriageway and into the path of the young family.

He was charged and pleaded guilty to both offences when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on April 22.

Now he has been jailed for four years and disqualified from driving for seven years.

Ada's father, Bora, said afterwards: “The images of that horrific moment remain seared into my mind. That scene replays endlessly, a constant reminder of the day my world fractured beyond repair.

“This tragedy happened on my watch, a father's ultimate failure. My world has been turned upside down, and with it, the foundations of my family have crumbled.

“My darling Ada. Our thanks are not enough to show our gratitude for you. We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten.

"We will make this story one of love and thanks that we owe everybody. Your presence, and passing, will leave a mark in this country and we will fight to make drug driving a part of its history."

Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the investigation, said: “Asolo-Ogugua will have to spend the rest of his life regretting the night he chose to stay awake before getting behind the wheel of a bus with cannabis in his system.

“It's a night that has cost him his freedom and snatched away the life of an innocent little girl.

“Ada had her whole life ahead of her. She lived in the area and attended a local primary school where she was a popular and happy pupil.

“In a remarkable show of courage and humility, Ada’s family chose to take her life forward to help others by donating her organs.

“I can only hope today’s sentence brings some closure for Ada’s family, who have remained a pillar of strength throughout these proceedings.”

Senior Crown Prosecutor, Miranda Jollie, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Asolo-Ogugua was reckless and utterly selfish to get behind the wheel of a bus after consuming drugs and put many lives at risk that day.

“His actions have robbed a young girl of her entire life. Our thoughts remain with Ada’s family and friends as they try to come to terms with their unimaginable loss

"I hope his sentence today can help to bring some closure for Ada’s family and highlight the devastating consequences of drug driving.”