Death crash driver 'suicidal'

Ms Telfer died instantly, the high court heard

A drink-driver involved in a fatal crash with a motorcyclist considered taking his own life, a court has heard.

Alan Kellock's defence told the High Court in Edinburgh that he had been filled with remorse since the crash, which claimed the life of 29-year university scientist Jill Telfer.

The court heard how the crash was so ferocious that Ms Telfer, the mother of a two-year-old boy, was knocked into a ditch with her motorcycle. She died instantly.

Kellock, 36, stumbled away from the scene of the accident on a dark country road without noticing his black-clad victim or her 500cc Honda.

Kellock failed a blood alcohol test after the crash

Her body was later discovered by a firefighter, who, while trying to extinguish the wreck of Kellock's car, noticed the woman's helmet.

Kellock of Craigview, Sauchie, in Clackmannanshire, appeared in court for sentence on Tuesday.

However, the judge, Lord McEwan, agreed to a further delay for background reports after hearing that Kellock was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

He had been charged with causing death by dangerous driving on 26 May, 1999, but his guilty plea to a lesser charge of driving carelessly while over the legal drink-drive limit was accepted.

He also admitted driving without insurance and failing to report the accident.

Not guilty pleas to driving with bald tyres and failing to stop after the smash on the A907 Stirling to Dunfermline road at Cambus were accepted.

Left hand bend

Defence advocate, Dennis Crawley, told the court: "According to my information, on one occasion he went to a wooded area with a piece of rope with the intention of committing suicide.

"On another occasion he was in an area with a pond and again contemplated suicide."

At an earlier hearing Kellock admitted he had caused the crash by crossing the centre line of the road as he took a left hand bend in a Renault 19.

A blood test in hospital on Kellock, three hours after the smash, showed a level of 94mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The limit is 80 ml.

Mr Crawley said Kellock had drunk one can of cider that evening after a tournament at his bowling club but had been drinking heavily the night before.

Ms Telfer had been going home in Bruce Street, Clackmannan, after working late at Stirling University.

Days after the crash, her partner, Tina Robertson, 32, announced she would bring up Ms Telfer's son.

Kellock was allowed to remain on bail until his return to court on 28 September.