A driver who left an Angus mum with “life-threatening” injuries following a horrific road smash has been locked up.
Scott Fairweather skipped a red light and collided at high speed with Rachel Ward’s car in Forfar last November.
Fairweather took his girlfriend’s blue Vauxhall Corsa before crashing into Miss Ward’s Corsa on North Street in the early hours of November 15.
The 28-year-old has been handed a hefty jail sentence, much to the delight of his victim.
“I am overjoyed with that sentence,” Miss Ward said.
“He left me for dead and I had been saying for the last few days that he was going to get away with it. So I’m surprised but I’m delighted.
“I feel like I have gotten justice and I’m definitely going to be celebrating.”
Shocking CCTV footage played to Dundee Sheriff Court showed Miss Ward’s car being propelled 15 metres across the road and into a traffic light.
Fairweather suffered a broken leg after the smash but still managed to run away from police while trying to disguise his appearance.
Joyrider fled after crash
The court heard how Fairweather, of Easterbank, Forfar, had taken his friend, Lennon Russell, for a joyride in his partner’s car without her knowledge.
Fiscal depute Kirsten Letford said: “Miss Ward went through the lights and the offside of her vehicle was struck at speed by the front of the blue Corsa driven by the accused.
“The accused drove through a red light and the impact of the collision projected her 15 metres north to North Street, mounting a kerb and striking a traffic light pole.
“This caused it to bend at a 45-degree angle.
“The accused’s vehicle was projected further and crashed into a wall. There was significant damage to the vehicles.
“The accused and his friend then ran off towards North Street.”
Life threatening injuries
Police later arrived at the scene with Miss Ward having to be cut free from her car by firefighters.
It was revealed how she suffered a fractured pelvis, a collapsed lung, broken ribs and had to spend time in intensive care due to her “life-threatening” injuries.
Fairweather was seen trying to disguise his t-shirt after being spotted with Mr Russell by police on East High Street at 1.15am.
The pair ran off but Fairweather went to his partner’s home on Strathmore Avenue where officers were waiting for him.
He extended his arms and said: “Take it you are looking for me?”
Fairweather’s partner confirmed that she did not give him permission to take her car.
He initially told officers that Mr Russell was responsible, saying: “It was my mate, he crashed the car with me in it.”
DNA evidence proved Fairweather was the driver.
‘Deep regret’
Fairweather pled guilty to taking and driving his girlfriend’s car without consent on November 15 before causing Miss Ward serious injury driving at speed, failing to observe a red light and colliding with her car.
He admitted running from the scene, removing his t-shirt to disguise his appearance and running away from police in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.
Solicitor Douglas Thomson said his client expressed “deep regret” about the collision and offered his apologies to Miss Ward.
He told Sheriff Richard McFarlane: “He recognises the court can only take a serious view.”
He said a “robust package of measures” for community service could be put in place.
‘Horrendous experience’
However, Sheriff McFarlane ruled only a prison sentence could reflect the gravity of the offence.
“The aftermath of the collision with Rachel Ward’s vehicle is all consistent with a very high rate of speed,” he told Fairweather.
“Not content with having caused significant damage to the vehicle driven by her, you then leave the scene and you take significant steps to disassociate yourself with having anything to do with the driving of your girlfriend’s car.
“You leave the scene leaving a badly damaged vehicle and, in that vehicle, the driver was trapped and had to be cut out and taken to hospital where her injuries were described as life-threatening.
“Two weeks hospitalisation and continuing rehabilitation not to mention the mental trauma of this horrendous experience.
“I see no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
He was jailed for 40 months.
