Officer found guilty of dangerous driving after flipping police car in Castlemilk during chase

An officer who flipped his police car onto its roof in a horror crash has been fined £470.

Andrew McCrystal, 30, collided with a BMW during a pursuit of a vehicle in Glasgow's Castlemilk on October 27, 2020.

The constable raced through a red traffic light at a junction - ignoring his police training guidelines.

His colleague and passenger PC Scott Stewart, 35, suffered a concussion.

A 39-year-old dad and his son, aged 10, who were in the BMW, fortunately escaped with minor injuries.

McCrystal was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of a single charge of dangerous driving.

The court heard McCrystal was pursuing a Skoda containing a suspect of serious organised crime.

McCrystal tailed the car from the city's Castlemilk in the early evening as they approached a junction with a red light on Dougrie Road and Carmunnock Road.

The Skoda went on the opposite side of the road and McCrystal followed suit.

PC Stewart said: “I had no concerns going on the opposite side at the time.

“PC McCrystal was in control of the vehicle and slowed down sufficiently round the corner.”

The officer claimed that McCrystal followed standard procedure at the time and “adjusted to a crawl.”

He added that McCrystal was possibly going over the speed limit.

PC Stewart stated that he was looking down at his digital notebook on approach to another red-light junction.

The officer meantime noticed a blue bonnet coming from his left-hand side.

Prosecutor Josh Dowie asked what action McCrystal took.

He replied: “I shouted something like ‘watch, watch’ and my next recollection was being involved in a collision.”

Mr Dowie then asked if McCrystal adjusted his speed at the traffic light which the witness replied: “I’m not sure.”

Mr Dowie: “If the vehicle was slowed to a crawl would that have given an opportunity to avoid each other?”

PC Stewart: “Yes.”

The officer described hearing a “loud noise” at the start of the collision.

He added: “I was thrown around the car.

“I believe the car had been turned upside down.”

The constables were helped out of the car by an off-duty officer.

He stated that there was “severe damage” to both vehicles.

PC Stewart was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a concussion as well as minor burn to his arm.

McCrystal and another officer on board also went to hospital for treatment.

Mr Dowie asked on the second occasion if the driver adjusted to a crawl which the officer replied: “No.”

Callum Anderson, defending, asked if it was possible McCrystal was breaking at the junction which the witness replied: “Possibly.”

In convicting him, Sheriff Jonathan Guy said: "You should go through a red light at slow or walking pace of two to four miles per hour unless the junction was clear.

"The junction you approached was not clear as there was a van in the right-hand lane.

"There should have been uncertainty in your mind.

"You did not follow your training.

"You drove at speeds between seven and times the appropriate speed for the circumstances.

"It was grossly excessive speed."

The sheriff however commended the dad-of-one for his actions after the collision stating that he was "impressed."

McCrystal had 10 penalty points put on his licence on top of his fine.