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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Double crash death drivers jailed | Double crash death drivers jailed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two men have been jailed over the death of a man who was thrown from a stolen car after a crash - then knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver. | Two men have been jailed over the death of a man who was thrown from a stolen car after a crash - then knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver. |
| Patrick Gilheaney, 27, from Lancashire, had been driving the car in which 36-year-old Derek Maxwell was a passenger. | Patrick Gilheaney, 27, from Lancashire, had been driving the car in which 36-year-old Derek Maxwell was a passenger. |
| The drink-driver was jailed for three years over the incident last August. | The drink-driver was jailed for three years over the incident last August. |
| Allan Edmunds, 53, from Skye, was jailed for 27 months after he admitted causing Mr Maxwell's death by careless driving on the A87 on Skye. | Allan Edmunds, 53, from Skye, was jailed for 27 months after he admitted causing Mr Maxwell's death by careless driving on the A87 on Skye. |
| Edmunds, from Breakish, Skye, did not stop after the accident then hid his vehicle in woods before trying to cover up the damage to his car. | Edmunds, from Breakish, Skye, did not stop after the accident then hid his vehicle in woods before trying to cover up the damage to his car. |
| The two men were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh. | The two men were sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh. |
| When you got yourself into a hole you dug deeper and deeper Lords Brailsford | When you got yourself into a hole you dug deeper and deeper Lords Brailsford |
| Judge Lord Brailsford said Gilheaney's driving while on Skye had been "shocking". | Judge Lord Brailsford said Gilheaney's driving while on Skye had been "shocking". |
| He told Edmunds, who had not been in trouble with the police before, that he had never seen a more difficult road traffic case and had "laboured anxiously" over how he should be sentenced. | He told Edmunds, who had not been in trouble with the police before, that he had never seen a more difficult road traffic case and had "laboured anxiously" over how he should be sentenced. |
| A court had earlier heard how learner driver Gilheaney, from Rossendale, Lancashire, had driven from the north of England to Skye in a stolen car with his friend Mr Maxwell on 24 August. | A court had earlier heard how learner driver Gilheaney, from Rossendale, Lancashire, had driven from the north of England to Skye in a stolen car with his friend Mr Maxwell on 24 August. |
| Gilheaney was on the wrong side of the road travelling at 100mph when he crashed into another car on the Invergarry to Uig road. | Gilheaney was on the wrong side of the road travelling at 100mph when he crashed into another car on the Invergarry to Uig road. |
| Mr Maxwell, who had been asleep in a back seat, was thrown out of a car window by the impact. | Mr Maxwell, who had been asleep in a back seat, was thrown out of a car window by the impact. |
| As he tried to get up he was struck by boat builder Mr Edmunds' 4x4, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Maxwell died instantly. | As he tried to get up he was struck by boat builder Mr Edmunds' 4x4, which was travelling in the opposite direction. Mr Maxwell died instantly. |
| Mr Edmunds then hid his vehicle in nearby Kinloch Woods and travelled to Inverness to buy equipment to cut up and dispose of it. | Mr Edmunds then hid his vehicle in nearby Kinloch Woods and travelled to Inverness to buy equipment to cut up and dispose of it. |
| He also bought a bike so that he could cycle back to the woods and work on his car. | He also bought a bike so that he could cycle back to the woods and work on his car. |
| 'Drunken state' | 'Drunken state' |
| Advocate depute Morag Jack, prosecuting, said that when Gilheaney arrived in the Highlands he began speeding and forced other motorists to take evasive action. | Advocate depute Morag Jack, prosecuting, said that when Gilheaney arrived in the Highlands he began speeding and forced other motorists to take evasive action. |
| Defence advocate Graham Robertson said alcohol dominated Gilheaney's life. | Defence advocate Graham Robertson said alcohol dominated Gilheaney's life. |
| Mr Robertson said: "He was in a drunken state when he stole the car and has a very hazy recollection of coming to Scotland as he was in a drunken state." | Mr Robertson said: "He was in a drunken state when he stole the car and has a very hazy recollection of coming to Scotland as he was in a drunken state." |
| Solicitor advocate Richard Goddard said his client, Edmunds, had no explanation for his actions other than "shock and disbelief". | Solicitor advocate Richard Goddard said his client, Edmunds, had no explanation for his actions other than "shock and disbelief". |
| Lord Brailsford told Gilheaney: "It was due to your actions that, ultimately, this most tragic death occurred." | Lord Brailsford told Gilheaney: "It was due to your actions that, ultimately, this most tragic death occurred." |
| The judge said Edmunds had attempted a cover-up, adding: "When you got yourself into a hole you dug deeper and deeper." | |
| Supt John Darcy, of Northern Constabulary, commended the officers who investigated the incident. | |
| He added: "Such sentences hopefully serve notice on others who cowardly leave the scene of a crime with no regard to the tragedy they have brought about. | |
| "Such cases are treated as a high priority and those responsible will be caught." |