Driving rap hotel boss ‘tried to blame other motorist for accident’

Claim: Man says Macdonald pursued him for £4,000 damages after cars collided on the A9

A hotel boss who was allowed to keep his driving licence after an accident because he needed to take his children to private school initially tried to blame the driver of the car he hit, it has been claimed.

Ruaridh Macdonald narrowly escaped a ban after pleading guilty to driving without due care and consideration for other road users on the A9.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the 41-year-old, who heads the Macdonald hotel chain, forced a Nissan car travelling in the opposite direction to take evasive action and clipped a Volkswagen.

But he was allowed to keep his licence after his lawyer said he needed to ferry his children to rural Strathallan School, and to visit the firm’s 45 hotels.

The driver of the Volkswagen branded the sentence “a joke” and revealed police initially tried to charge him with leaving the scene of an accident.

The man, who did not want to be identified, said Macdonald’s insurers tried to pursue him for £4,000 damage to his Range Rover and more than £2,000 for the cost of a hire car.

“I did not report this accident as I perceived it as only a clash of wing mirrors at the time and not worth the hassle with insurance companies,” he said.

“It was only around three or four weeks later that I was contacted by my insurance company stating that I caused an accident and left the scene.

“The police also contacted me after around four weeks to charge me with the accident and when presented with the dashcam evidence and ongoing insurance details they then charged Mr Macdonald.

“His lawyer made a bargain with the courts for the reduced charges and the witnesses didn’t have a chance to put their side of the accident to the court.

“One day a week to drive kids to school is a bit of a joke especially considering his position, and the sentence given should have at least been a ban to teach him that he cannot think that he can drive like that.

“If it was normal Joe Public with six points on their licence and driving as he did, especially on the notorious A9, they would have been banned.”

A friend of Macdonald said: “It’s important to note that it was Ruaraidh who reported the incident to the police. He considers the matter closed.”

If it was normal Joe Public with six points and driving like he did they would have been banned

Dashcam footage from the Volkswagen shows Macdonald’s Ranger Rover as it overtakes.

Hotel boss Ruaridh Macdonald.