A drug addict took a cocktail of potentially deadly drugs before ploughing his car into a pedestrian and driving home without stopping, a court has heard.
The 33-year-old victim was left with a serious brain injury and fractured skull and is still receiving treatment in hospital in Aberdeen, more than three months after almost dying from her injuries after the incident in Forfar.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told Shawn Kenny, 40, had taken heroin, cannabis and methadone before the crash on South Street early on June 1.
Elaine Thomson was walking home when Kenny mounted the pavement and knocked her over a wall before driving to his home nearby.
The court heard his mother had twice contacted police earlier the previous day to report her concerns about him driving while under the influence of drugs.
Kenny, of Restenneth Drive, admitted causing serious injury to Ms Thomson by driving dangerously, repeatedly colliding with a kerb, mounting the kerb and driving on to the pavement, before colliding with her.
The charge states he narrowly avoided two other pedestrians and drove on.
He further admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs and, having caused the collision, failing to stop and give details.
Kenny also pleaded guilty to producing cannabis at addresses on Lordburn Place and Restenneth Drive in Forfar between June 1 and 3. A total of 31 cannabis plants were found, with an estimated value put at between £5,920 and £17,760.
Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair told the court that on the morning of May 31, Jean Kenny visited Forfar Police Station and raised concerns her son was driving while under the influence of drugs, which was also affecting his diabetes.
At 5pm the same day, she again contacted police and told them he had left the house and was driving to Kirriemuir in her Y-reg blue Vauxhall Astra to buy drugs. However he wasn’t traced.
Later that night, Ms Thomson was out drinking with her aunt Jennifer Choudry and friends in Forfar. At the end of the night, the two were walking home accompanied by a man when Kenny’s car ploughed into Ms Thomson, knocking her over a wall at 69 South Street.
The male and Ms Choudry then called emergency services and Ms Thomson was rushed to intensive care in Ninewells Hospital, where her chances of survival were described as “poor”.
She had suffered a traumatic brain injury, three fractured ribs, a skull fracture and other bone fractures, and was placed in a medically induced coma.
Kenny was later taken to Ninewells amid concerns for his diabetic condition.
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan deferred sentence, telling Kenny: “It is inevitable there is going to be a custodial sentence.”
He was remanded in custody.
Ms Thomson recovered sufficiently to be transferred to the neurosurgical unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary later that month. She was moved to the rehabilitation unit at Woodend Hospital last month.