Three years in jail for Fraserburgh driver who left woman paralysed

A Fraserburgh man will spend three years in prison for causing a crash in Aberdeenshire which left a woman paralysed.

32-year-old Gavin Coull has been sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after causing the crash on the A90 near Ellon on the morning of Thursday, 11 March, 2021.

The crash happened at the junction with the B9000 near Tipperty and involved a black BMW and a red Ford Fiesta which were travelling southbound.

A 23-year-old woman, a passenger in the Fiesta, was left paralysed from the neck down as a result of the crash.

Moments before the impact, Coull uploaded a dashcam video to Snapchat which showed his car's speedometer reaching 100 miles per hour.

A blood test also found drugs in his system.

Alison McKenzie, Procurator Fiscal for Aberdeen, said: “This young woman suffered catastrophic injuries as a direct consequence of Gavin Coull’s dangerous driving.

“In a split second, she was deprived of the normal and rich life she was entitled to expect.

“Yet she showed enormous bravery and courage in harrowing circumstances to give evidence to the court.

“Hopefully, she and her family will gain some comfort from the fact that justice has been served and that the accused will now spend time in prison as a result of his crimes.”

Police Sergeant Craig McNeill of the Road Policing Unit said: “Coull’s disregard for road safety has had a devastating impact on this young woman.

“His actions highlight the disastrous consequences of dangerous driving and the lasting impact it has on those involved, along with their families and friends.

"Drivers must obey speed limits and respect the safety of other road users. Drivers are responsible for their actions and the temptation to take risks can have severe and long-lasting consequences for everyone involved.”