The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mother ‘left for dead’ by driver hails sentence
COURT: CCTV captured shocking moment of impact
A mum who was badly injured when her car was smashed into by a hit and run joyrider yesterday welcomed him being jailed for 40 months.
Rachel Ward spent two weeks in hospital with a collapsed lung and broken pelvis and ribs after the crash in Forfar last November and now suffers from a heart murmur.
Horrific CCTV footage played to Dundee Sheriff Court captured the moment a Vauxhall Corsa being driven at high speed by Scott Fairweather barrelled through a red light and into Miss Ward’s own Corsa.
The impact sent her vehicle 15 metres across the road where it smashed into a traffic light.
Despite suffering a broken leg, Fairweather ran off.
The 28-year-old was jailed after admitting various offences including trying to defeat the ends of justice by fleeing from the accident.
Miss Ward said: “I am overjoyed with that sentence.
“He left me for dead.”
Adriver who left an Angus mum with “life-threatening” injuries following a road crash has been jailed.
Scott Fairweather skipped a red light and collided at high speed with Rachel Ward’s car in Forfar.
Miss Ward spent a fortnight in Ninewells Hospital with a collapsed lung and broken pelvis and now suffers from a heart murmur.
Fairweather took his girlfriend’s blue Vauxhall Corsa before crashing into Miss Ward’s Corsa on North Street in the early hours of November 15.
The 28-year-old was handed a sentence of 40 months.
Miss Ward said: “I am overjoyed.
“He left me for dead and I had been saying for the last few days that he was going to get away with it. So I’m surprised but I’m delighted.
“I feel like I have gotten justice and I’m definitely going to be celebrating.”
CCTV footage played to Dundee Sheriff Court showed Miss Ward’s car being propelled 15 metres across the road and into a traffic light.
Fairweather suffered a broken leg but still managed to run away.
The court heard how Fairweather, of Easterbank, Forfar, had taken his friend Lennon Russell for a drive in his partner’s car without her knowledge.
Fiscal depute Kirsten Letford said: “Miss Ward went through the lights and the offside of her vehicle was struck at speed by the front of the blue Corsa driven by the accused.
“The accused drove through a red light and the impact of the collision projected her 15 metres north to North Street, mounting a kerb and striking a traffic light pole.
“This caused it to bend at a 45-degree angle.
“The accused’s vehicle was projected further and crashed into a wall.
“The accused and his friend then ran off towards North Street.”
Miss Ward had to be cut free by firefighters.
She suffered a fractured pelvis, a collapsed lung, broken ribs and was treated in intensive care due to her “life-threatening” injuries.
Fairweather was seen trying to disguise his T-shirt after being spotted with Mr Russell by police on East High Street at 1.15am. The pair ran off but Fairweather went to his partner’s home on Strathmore Avenue where officers were waiting.
He extended his arms and said: “Take it you are looking for me?”
Fairweather initially told officers Mr Russell was responsible, saying: “It was my mate, he crashed the car with me in it.”
DNA proved Fairweather was the driver.
He pled guilty to taking and driving his girlfriend’s car without consent before causing Miss Ward serious injury driving at speed, failing to observe a red light and colliding with her car.
He admitted running from the scene, removing his T-shirt to disguise his appearance and running away from police in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.
Solicitor Douglas Thomson said his client expressed “deep regret” about the collision and offered his apologies to Miss Ward.
Mr Thomson told Sheriff Richard Mcfarlane: “He recognises the court can only take a serious view.” The solicitor added that a “robust package of measures” for community service could be put in place.
However, Sheriff Mcfarlane ruled only a prison sentence could reflect the gravity of the offence.
“The aftermath of the collision with Rachel Ward’s vehicle is all consistent with a very high rate of speed,” he told Fairweather.
“Not content with having caused significant damage to the vehicle driven by her, you then leave the scene and take significant steps to disassociate yourself with having anything to do with the driving of your girlfriend’s car.
“You leave the scene leaving a badly damaged vehicle and, in that vehicle, the driver was trapped and had to be cut out and taken to hospital where her injuries were described as life-threatening. Two weeks hospitalisation and continuing rehabilitation not to mention the mental trauma of this horrendous experience.
“I see no alternative to a custodial sentence.”