Teenager found guilty of causing death of Ayrshire mum by dangerous driving
John Gribben is the second driver to be convicted over the incident
Last updated 1st Feb 2018
Two boy racers killed a much loved gran after going at speeds of up to 140 mph.
Joan Price, 59, was returning from brass band practice when tragedy struck on January 30 last year.
The smash occurred as banned driver Logan Knox and John Gribben rallied along the A77 near Ayr, South Ayrshire.
Jurors heard how one motorist described their behaviour as “absolute madness”.
Knox, 20, eventually lost control of his powerful Volkswagen Golf GTI and ploughed head on into Joan's Nissan Pulsar.
The support worker died instantly while her passenger Gillian Kay was left badly hurt.
Prosecutors claimed Knox and Gribben fled the carnage in the latter's private-registration Audi A3.
Despite the death, Gribben took part in further high speed driving just two months later and described as using “Ayrshire roads as a racetrack”.
The duo's involvement can now be revealed following the end of Gribben's trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday.
Gribben, 19, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
Knox was jailed for five years and four months last summer after he pled guilty to the same charge.
A judge slapped a reporting ban on that case until a verdict in Gribben's trial.
Gribben had his bail continued – but was warned he also faces a jail-term.
Members of Joan's distraught family had wept and consoled each other as the verdict was announced.
They were later too upset to comment as they left court.
The smash happened on the A77 on the outskirts of Ayr close to Prestwick Airport.
The stretch of road where the crash occurred was well known not to be covered by speed cameras.
Knox was brought from custody to give evidence and admitted his speed was “probably about 140 at some point”.
He recalled Gribben had been “flashing his lights and waving” that night. He believed Gribben was “probably wanting a race”.
But, he claimed in court that Gribben was not responsible for the death.
Knox told jurors: “Maybe (Gribben was) engaging in a race, but the crash was not his fault.”
First offender Gribben will return to the dock later this month. He was banned from the road meantime.