A one-time Angus gangster put another driver in hospital for three days after over-taking carelessly on the A92.
Gary Quigley also spent more than three weeks in Ninewells and needed surgery after causing a head-on collision last autumn.
On the afternoon of October 17, Quigley tried to overtake the other motorist on the single carriageway near Lunan.
While on the wrong side of the carriageway, he smashed into an oncoming car.
Its driver Clarence Wei collapsed after escaping the wreck and 56-year-old Quigley had to be cut free.
Both men were rushed to hospital, where Quigley needed surgery and Mr Wei was told he would need to wear a boot for a serious foot injury.
The collision took place 26 years after Quigley was locked up for his role in a drugs ring which was operating out of an Arbroath nightclub.
While working as head doorman, he was one of six men convicted of using Club Metro as a drug den in 1996.
Head-on
Forfar Sheriff Court heard Mr Wei was alone in his Toyota Yaris and navigated a left hand bend in the road at the 60mph speed limit.
As he passed a queue of traffic heading in the opposite direction, Quigley pulled his Mini onto the opposing carriageway.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said Mr Wei “had little time to react” but attempted to swerve to avoid a collision.
However, the two cars smashed head-on and both were thrown into the air.
The vehicles suffered “substantial” frontal damage and airbags were deployed in each.
Witnesses ran to the scene to find Quigley trapped in his car.
He complained of pain in his right knee and passers-by cut through his seatbelt and helped him to the grass verge.
Mr Wei managed to climb out of his own wreck unaided, before “collapsing” on the verge.
The emergency services came and both men were rushed to Ninewells by ambulance.
The road was closed at Inverkeilor for almost three hours and traffic was diverted.
Quigley was taken straight into the high dependency unit and not released from hospital until November 9 – 23 days later.
He required surgery and among his injuries were a fractured sternum and two broken ribs.
Mr Wei had two fractured metatarsals in his left foot and suffered a blood clot in his abdomen but this did not require surgery.
Sentenced
Quigley, of Arbroath‘s High Street, previously wrote to Forfar Sheriff Court pleading guilty to causing serious injury by driving carelessly and sentence was deferred for his personal appearance.
He was disqualified for 18 months.
Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon also fined Quigley £1,000, plus a £40 victim surcharge.
Drug ring role
At Arbroath Sheriff Court in 1996, Quigley was jailed for three years after admitting being concerned in the supply of ecstasy.
The illicit operation was foiled when 150 police officers raided Club Metro in March that year.
Club Metro was stormed as the result of Operation Paris, a covert operation by Tayside Police that involved undercover officers buying drugs inside the club on the two weekends before the raid.
Along with Quigley, the club’s managing director and floor manager were also jailed.
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