Man jailed for running over teen will get driving licence back
A dangerous driver who was jailed for killing a teenager has been given his licence back - after a judge accepted he needed his car to "help with childcare."
A dangerous driver who was jailed for killing a teenager has been given his licence back - after a judge accepted he needed his car to "help with childcare."
Michael McInnes,24, was handed a two year jail sentence and a five year ban in October 2012 for running over Robert Dickie,17, in Ayr in 2011.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how McInnes had been drinking Buckfast and beer in the hours leading up to the collision which took place at 3.10am on September 1 of that year.
He also failed to stop after striking Mr Dickie, who had been due to start an architectural degree at university.
Passing sentence, judge Lady Stacey told McInnes that he was "irresponsible" and that she had no other option but to send him to prison.
On Friday, McInnes, of Ayr, succeeded in getting his licence back 18 months before the ban was supposed to end following a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
His solicitor advocate Euan Cameron had told judge Lady Stacey that McInnes had recently became a father and needed cash to provide for his child.
Mr Cameron told the court that a licence would allow his client to work overtime as an aircraft engineer and would help with childcare issues.
Lady Stacey said: "I have listened carefully to Mr Cameron's submissions. There is nothing I can say or do which can reduce the grief felt by Mr Dickie's family.
"Having listened to what Mr Cameron has said on your behalf, I am persuaded to allow you to have your driving licence back.
"I must stress that you are not getting your licence back to allow you to work overtime but to assist with childcare.
"What you did on that day was not bad driving. It was showing off. You were using your car as a lethal weapon.
"I can only hope now that you think of what you did when you have your own baby in your car."
During proceedings in 2012, McInnes pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
He struck Mr Dickie in Ayr's Chapelpark Road and didn't stop.
The court heard how Mr Dickie had been at a party and that McInnes had been attending a night out with his brother and friends.
He was driving them home in his Peugeot when the collision took place.
Prosecutor Stephen O'Rourke said Mr McInnes had earlier drank half a bottle of Buckfast and a bottle of beer at a friend's flat. He later stuck to soft drinks while in the club.
The court was told how one of McInnes's passengers felt he was "showing off" during the car journey as the vehicle weaved from side to side.
McInnes's friends later joked with him about the condition of the car and the accused partially turned his head to speak to them.
Passengers soon spotted a shape in the road which turned out to be Mr Dickie.
Mr Dickie, of Ayr, died at the scene after suffering a broken neck, fractured ribs and a gaping wound to his head.
McInnes, also of Ayr, was traced by police later that morning after being spotted sitting in his car. He wasn't over the drink driving limit.
On Friday, Mr Cameron told the court that his client was "remorseful" for what he had done.
The lawyer also told the court that McInnes hadn't applied for licence at an earlier stage because he didn't want to show "disrespect" to Mr Dickie's family.
He added: "He didn't want to be seen to be rushing into applying for his licence. He was conscious of not showing disrespect to Mr Dickie's family.
"There is not a day which goes by in which he doesn't think about the terrible consequences of his actions.
"He is truly sorry for what he has done."
McInnes will now have to re sit his driving test.