I’m devastated to be paralysed but don’t hate teen driver who caused horror injuries
Biker dad confined to wheelchair says youngster now has to own the‘demons, guilt and shame’
A West Lothian dad-of-two has told how his life has been “devastated” after being paralysed for life by a teen driver who had just passed his test.
Jacob Varey was given six penalty points and a £600 fine after causing a crash that left Gordon Alexander unable to walk again.
He was sentenced last Tuesday after he pled guilty to driving without due care and attention.
The teenager, from Berwick-uponTweed, pulled out of the junction between the A71 and A704 in West Lothian and collided with Gordon, who was on his motorbike.
The 54-year-old suffered a lifechanging spinal cord injury as a result of the smash and is now confined to a wheelchair.
Livingston Sheriff Court heard Varey was only 17 years old at the time of the crash on April 3, 2022 – he had also just passed his driving test one month earlier and was driving his mother’s white Volkswagen Golf.
The court also heard the accident happened around 3pm when conditions were dry and clear and traffic was light.
Gordon, from Addiewell, says he “feels no hatred” towards Varey and instead hopes his conviction will send a message to road users everywhere on the importance on staying safe.
He said: “This incident totally devastated me and my family and will do so for the rest of our lives.
“When in hospital all I could think about was how much of a burden I would be to my family and I wondered if the world would be a better place without me being in it.
“Those thoughts and feelings made me feel terrible and even now I am overwhelmed when thinking about my future.
“I’ve been a biker for more than 35 years. Bikes are not just a mode of transport to me, they are a way of life.
“The freedom, the camaraderie. If you’re not a biker, you’ll never understand what grips you so much.
“There needs to be recognition from the justice system that Mr Varey has done wrong as you can’t just get away with something without fully understanding the repercussions of one’s own actions.
“But I don’t feel any hatred towards him.
“Part of me wants to meet him – in a neutral setting – so he can see exactly what’s happened as a result of his driving.
“But he will now need to own the demons, guilt and shame of his wrongdoings.
“If nothing else, I hope this has been a massive educational and life-changing experience for him to make him a better driver and a better person.
“And for the wider public, I hope it reminds people that vehicles are dangerous in the wrong hands and complacency can destroy lives.”
The court heard that Varey was convicted under Section 3 of the Road Traffic (Scotland) Act.
It was then explained that the charge of “causing serious injury by careless driving” – known as Section 2C of the same Act – was not introduced until nearly three months after this incident happened.
This meant Varey could only be prosecuted and sentenced on the nature of his driving and not the nature of the injuries sustained by
Mr Alexander. However, Varey’s defence agent said the teenager takes full responsibility for his actions and that “the serious consequences of the accident are not lost on him.”
Sheriff Craig Findlater sentenced Varey to six points on his licence reduced from nine points due to his early plea.
He also imposed a £600 fine which was reduced from £900 due to the early plea and ordered Varey to pay a victim surcharge of £40.
The court heard Varey will get to keep his licence but the penalty points applied to it means the DVLA will likely reclassify him to the level of a learner driver.
When passing sentence the sheriff added: “This is a really awful crash. Mr Alexander is an entirely innocent victim of your carelessness. Your age and the sentencing guidelines means that rehabilitation is to be focused on and the criminal charge in question requires me to consider the nature of your driving and not the effects of it.”
If nothing else, I hope this has been a life-changing experience for him to make him a better driver and a better person