Learner driver jailed for causing death of friend while under the influence

A learner driver who killed a friend after taking a cocktail of drugs has been jailed for five years.

21.year-old Ramsay Stevenson crashed his Vauxhall Meriva following a high-speed police chase that lasted six miles.

Passenger Cameron Donaldson, 20, was killed by the crash that happened in Baillieston, Glasgow in October last year. A further female passenger suffered serious injuries.

A judge heard Stevenson was already on bail at the time for other driving offences.

Stevenson returned to the High Court in Glasgow today after previously pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Lord Matthews said no sentence could compensate for the loss of Cameron to his family.

The judge told Stevenson: “I have read a heart-rending statement from his mother in which she has set out in words what the death has meant to her.

“I am sure she found mere words to be inadequate.”

Lord Matthews added Stevenson did “break the trust” of the courts by breaching bail.

Stevenson waved to family as he was lead downstairs to the cells.

A hearing was told Stevenson and Cameron had been friends since nursery school.

Police spotted Stevenson driving out of a Tesco car park in the city's Shettleston in the early hours of October 1 2018.

He only held a provisional licence and had no insurance. The Vauxhall had also been declared off-road.

Prosecutor Lynsay MacDonald said Stevenson was ordered to pull in, but he instead “accelerated away”.

He reached speeds of up to 90mph as officers went after him.

The chase went into nearby Springboig then onto the A8 in Baillieston before police were ordered to give up.

Miss MacDonald said: “Stevenson...lost control, collided with a tree before the car came to a halt.”

Front seat passenger Pauline McDowell, 27, was trapped in the car with factory worker Cameron slumped in the back.

But, the prosecutor added: “Stevenson got out of the car and ran away.

“He was initially chased by police, but he got away. He was later found hiding under a tree in a garden.”

Stevenson denied being the driver of the Vauxhall.

His friends were rushed to hospital.

Mr Donaldson was initially found to have massive internal injuries, and eventually suffered a brain injury - dying eight days later.

Ms McDowell had bleeding on the brain as well as fractures, but was able to leave hospital around a fortnight after the crash.

The court heard Stevenson suffered a ruptured liver and blood tests showed drugs in his system, but it could not be said exactly when the substances were taken.

He was found to have taken amphetamine, ecstasy and etizolam drugs before getting behind the wheel.

Bob Mitchell, defending, today said: “He considered Cameron Donaldson to be a close friend.

“He has repeatedly described himself struggling that his actions caused the death.”

Lord Matthews banned Stevenson from driving for 11 and a half years.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.

• {{news}}