Driver who paralysed young woman in crash jailed

A speeding operator who near a young pistillate paralysed pursuing a clang successful Aberdeenshire has been jailed for 3 years.

Ellen Stickle, present 27, was a rider successful a car struck by 32-year-old Gavin Coull's BMW connected the A90 Ellon to Aberdeen roadworthy successful March 2021.

Coull - who claimed idiosyncratic other was driving - was recovered blameworthy of causing superior wounded by driving dangerously, portion unfit done drugs. He was besides banned from driving for 4 years astatine Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Philip Mann said the clang caused "catastrophic" injuries which meant that Ms Stickle would ne'er go a mother.

Coull, from Fraserburgh, had earlier been convicted pursuing a five-day proceedings astatine Peterhead Sheriff Court.

The proceedings heard his speeds had reached much than 100mph.

Ms Stickle gave grounds and told the assemblage she had nary representation of the crash.

"I retrieve being told by the spinal advisor that I would ne'er locomotion again," the erstwhile keen runner said.

“It’s hard, but I’m conscionable grateful that I didn’t die."

Calum McIntyre, who was driving the Ford Fiesta successful which Ms Stickle was the passenger, was besides injured.

Defence solicitor Sam Milligan told the tribunal that portion Coull accepted the verdict helium maintained it was not him who was the operator astatine the time.

Sheriff Mann told Coull it was an "outrageously bad" portion of driving.

He said it caused catastrophic injuries to a young pistillate who is present confined to a wheelchair, causing her "mental anguish".

He said she would ne'er again beryllium capable to summation pleasance from moving oregon walking, ne'er go a mother, and her narration astatine the clip came to an end.

Sheriff Mann said helium was alert nary condemnation could ever compensate her done the remainder of her life.

Coull was besides ordered to beryllium an extended trial earlier helium tin thrust again.

A connection connected behalf of Ms Stickle said: “Ellen would similar to explicit her heartfelt gratitude to those who arrived archetypal connected the scene, who she believes played a important relation successful helping to prevention her life, including the assorted exigency services who attended.

“In particular, Ellen would similar to convey autobus operator Sandra Cordiner and betterment operator John Shirran, not lone for their contiguous actions, but for their clip and spot to springiness grounds successful court.

“Ellen would besides similar to convey Police Scotland and different organisations who worked tirelessly to unafraid this conviction.”

Injured operator Mr McIntyre told BBC Scotland News: "I would similar to accidental a large convey you to each the exigency services that came to assistance america that night.

"After respective years of halt and commencement tribunal proceedings I americium pleased a assemblage has recovered idiosyncratic liable for what happened.

"The interaction Gavin has caused by getting down the instrumentality nether the power to a young woman's beingness and her household is incomprehensible."

He added: "I anticipation different radical deliberation doubly earlier they repetition Gavin's actions and the information it puts different users connected the road."

Sgt Craig McNeill, of Police Scotland, said: "Coull’s disregard for roadworthy information has had a devastating interaction connected her.

“He drove dangerously astatine excessive velocity whilst nether the influence.

“His actions item the devastating consequences of unsafe driving and the lasting interaction it has connected those involved, on with their families and friends.

"Drivers indispensable obey velocity limits and respect the information of different roadworthy users.

"Drivers are liable for their actions and the temptation to instrumentality risks tin person terrible and long-lasting consequences for everyone involved.”