Lorry crash driver set to appeal prison sentence

A MAN whose arm was amputated following a crash involving a lorry has blasted a move by the driver to appeal against his sentence.

William Brierley, 54, was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for seven years after his lorry crashed into a car being driven by Neil Black at Inverkeilor railway bridge in Angus last March.

Brierley had ignored several road signs that said his vehicle was too high to fit under the bridge.

Mr Black, 31, of Inverkeilor, lost six pints of blood on the way to hospital and later lapsed into a coma.

Doctors said they were stunned that he survived — but were forced to amputate his arm due to the severity of his injuries.

Brierley admitted a charge of dangerous driving when he appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court in July.

Now the Tele can reveal that Brierley — who is also a convicted sex offender — is set to appeal against the severity of his sentence at the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Speaking today, Mr Black said: “I think that it is a disgrace.

“The sentences that are handed out for road traffic accidents are pathetic as it is.

“If he served his sentence he would be out of prison next year.

“Sentencing is a joke — earlier this week there was the case of a lorry driver who killed three kids and their mum in a crash when he was using his phone and he was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

“If he had killed them with a knife he would have got four life sentences — where is the justice in that?”

The Tele contacted Brierley’s solicitor for clarification on the appeal, but he hadn’t responded by the time of going to press.

On the day of the crash in March, Brierley failed to heed a sign that told him his 4.39 metre load was too big for the 4.26m railway bridge.

The lorry hit the bridge and then struck the front of Mr Black’s car, causing it to collide with the side of the bridge.

Mr Black was thrown from his seat when his seatbelt ripped in two due to the sheer force of the impact.

He suffered a “de-gloving” injury as the skin was ripped from his arm and he also suffered multiple fractures as well as lacerations.

Neil Black, whose arm was amputated as a result of his injuries.

Lorry driver William Brierley, pictured at Forfar Sheriff Court.