Death crash driver's ban lifted

Justin Vieregge was found guilty by a jury on 2003

A man convicted of causing the deaths of four people by dangerous driving near Aviemore in 2001 has had his 12-year driving ban lifted.

Justin Vieregge, 35, of Aviemore, appealed the ban at the High Court in Edinburgh.

His father-in-law John Borrowman told the court that Vieregge had matured from a "spoilt, little rich boy".

The crash killed Vieregge's passenger and three members of one family travelling in another car.

His trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2003 heard that police accident investigation officers estimated that he was driving at more than 80mph when he lost control of his sports car.

The vehicle crashed into another car killing Vieregge's passenger and business partner Calum MacLean, 29.

Mechanic Robin Scott, 47, his wife Elizabeth, 46, and Mr Scott's mother, Marion, 74, also died.

'Much impressed'

Found guilty by a jury, he was sentenced to seven years in prison but the jail term was later reduced by 18 months by appeal judges.

Appearing in court again, Vieregge successfully appealed the driving ban.

Judge Lord Uist said he was "much impressed" by the evidence given to the court by Mr Borrowman, 57.

The judge said: "I am satisfied from that evidence that since this tragic accident, in which four people were killed through the dangerous driving of Mr Vieregge, he has, as Mr Borrowman put it, matured a lot, is a lot more serious and responsible and thoughtful."

"Before the accident he was described by Mr Borrowman as 'a spoilt little rich boy'."

The court heard that he has had to play a bigger role in his restaurant business following his business partner's death and also has a young son with his wife.