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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Canal death crash driver jailed | Canal death crash driver jailed |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A drink-driver who crashed a stolen car into a canal causing the death of his ex-girlfriend's 15-year-old brother has been jailed for five-and-a-half years. | A drink-driver who crashed a stolen car into a canal causing the death of his ex-girlfriend's 15-year-old brother has been jailed for five-and-a-half years. |
| Paul Gray, 21, of Dunblane, twice told rescuers there was no-one else in the car - but the body of Gary McBride was later found in the submerged vehicle. | Paul Gray, 21, of Dunblane, twice told rescuers there was no-one else in the car - but the body of Gary McBride was later found in the submerged vehicle. |
| The incident happened at a bridge over the Union Canal at Almond Road, Muiravonside, Falkirk, on 20 September. | The incident happened at a bridge over the Union Canal at Almond Road, Muiravonside, Falkirk, on 20 September. |
| Passing sentence, the judge said Gray's behaviour was "grossly irresponsible". | Passing sentence, the judge said Gray's behaviour was "grossly irresponsible". |
| At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Hodge said Gray's actions had caused lasting heartache to the McBride family. | At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Hodge said Gray's actions had caused lasting heartache to the McBride family. |
| The consequences of this accident will have caused lasting heartache for his family Lord Hodge | The consequences of this accident will have caused lasting heartache for his family Lord Hodge |
| Gray, who had never possessed a driving licence, had earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving. | Gray, who had never possessed a driving licence, had earlier admitted causing death by dangerous driving. |
| He also admitted driving at an excessive speed while he was under the influence of alcohol. | He also admitted driving at an excessive speed while he was under the influence of alcohol. |
| "It is clear that you drank an excessive quantity of alcohol and drove the car along a relatively narrow road in damp conditions and in darkness at excessive speed for the conditions," Lord Hodge said. | "It is clear that you drank an excessive quantity of alcohol and drove the car along a relatively narrow road in damp conditions and in darkness at excessive speed for the conditions," Lord Hodge said. |
| "You behaved in a grossly irresponsible way and your actions resulted in the death of a young friend, Gary McBride. | "You behaved in a grossly irresponsible way and your actions resulted in the death of a young friend, Gary McBride. |
| "The consequences of this accident will have caused lasting heartache for his family." | "The consequences of this accident will have caused lasting heartache for his family." |
| Lord Hodge said he would have jailed Gray for seven years if he had not pleaded guilty. | Lord Hodge said he would have jailed Gray for seven years if he had not pleaded guilty. |
| Expressed remorse | Expressed remorse |
| Gray was also banned from driving for 10 years and ordered to resit a test. He has never held a driving licence. | |
| Lord Hodge told Gray: "I hope your period in prison will serve as an atonement for your actions." | Lord Hodge told Gray: "I hope your period in prison will serve as an atonement for your actions." |
| He said he noted that Gray had expressed remorse and was depressed and would arrange for the prison authorities to receive a copy of a psychiatric report which had warned of a suicide risk. | He said he noted that Gray had expressed remorse and was depressed and would arrange for the prison authorities to receive a copy of a psychiatric report which had warned of a suicide risk. |
| As sentence was passed, Mr McBride's mother shouted out: "You killed my son." | As sentence was passed, Mr McBride's mother shouted out: "You killed my son." |
| The High Court in Glasgow had previously heard that as well as denying there was anyone else in the car, Gray gave a false name to rescuers. | The High Court in Glasgow had previously heard that as well as denying there was anyone else in the car, Gray gave a false name to rescuers. |
| He had failed to negotiate a bend at Almond Road and lost control of the Fiat Tempra, hitting a fence and ending up on the parapet of a bridge before falling 15ft into the canal. | He had failed to negotiate a bend at Almond Road and lost control of the Fiat Tempra, hitting a fence and ending up on the parapet of a bridge before falling 15ft into the canal. |
| Knocked unconscious | Knocked unconscious |
| Local residents heard the crash and two men - Christopher Crowe and Christopher Parsons - waded into the 5ft deep canal. | Local residents heard the crash and two men - Christopher Crowe and Christopher Parsons - waded into the 5ft deep canal. |
| They found Gray unconscious and kept his head above water to stop him from drowning. | They found Gray unconscious and kept his head above water to stop him from drowning. |
| He was trapped for 50 minutes until firefighters cut him free. He gave them a false name and told them no-one else was in the car. | He was trapped for 50 minutes until firefighters cut him free. He gave them a false name and told them no-one else was in the car. |
| The body of Gary McBride, who lived at Hillside Terrace, Westquarter, Falkirk, was found floating in the back of the upturned Fiat by a police diver. | The body of Gary McBride, who lived at Hillside Terrace, Westquarter, Falkirk, was found floating in the back of the upturned Fiat by a police diver. |
| The court heard that he had drowned within two minutes after being knocked unconscious. Gray spent five days in hospital and initially told police that Mr McBride had been driving the car. | The court heard that he had drowned within two minutes after being knocked unconscious. Gray spent five days in hospital and initially told police that Mr McBride had been driving the car. |
| Defence counsel Gerry Carroll said alcohol had been a "significant factor" in Gray's offending. | Defence counsel Gerry Carroll said alcohol had been a "significant factor" in Gray's offending. |