Death crash drink-driver jailed

Michael Watt lost control of his car and hit a tree

A drink-driver who complained he had damaged his car while a teenager lay dead inside it has been jailed for five years and four months.

Michael Watt, 36, told his passengers to be quiet as there was nothing wrong with them after he lost control of his sports car and hit a tree.

However, passenger Keith Whitelaw, 18, died in the crash on the A947 Turriff to Banff road on 27 August last year.

Watt admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He was also banned from driving for 10 years.

Judge Lady Clark said: "This is a tragic case, particularly for the victims who were injured, and for the relatives of Mr Whitelaw, and for Mr Whitelaw himself who died as a result of your actions.

There is no doubt it is a very serious offence which must be punished by a lengthy sentence of imprisonment Judge Lady Clark

"It is plain you should never have driven the car on the evening in question in the state you were in.

"It is plain your actions while under the influence of drink have caused devastation to others."

The judge added: "There is no doubt it is a very serious offence which must be punished by a lengthy sentence of imprisonment."

The High Court in Edinburgh previously heard that Watt had spent the afternoon and evening drinking and boasting about his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR.

Fastest car

Advocate depute Alex Prentice said Watt had lost control on a "twisty" downhill section of road as he headed for Banff.

Mr Whitelaw, who lived in Macduff, had been out with friends on the night he died but had not been drinking because he was driving.

The court heard how Watt told the group he was the owner of the fastest car in the north east, that he had been stopped for speeding twice and claimed the sports car could do 180mph.

Watt was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh

Mr Whitelaw and his friends had "jumped at the chance" to see the car when offered, said Mr Prentice.

Watt then took them for a fast drive - before hitting a tree and crashing down an embankment. The other passengers called emergency services.

Mr Prentice said: "The accused shouted at the passengers to be quiet as there was nothing wrong with them but that he was in trouble for having damaged his new car."

Mr Whitelaw, who was sitting in a back seat and was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown backwards into the rear window. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

'High speed'

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be neck injuries.

Crash investigators were unable to determine the speed the car had been doing before Watt lost control, but said "high speed would have been involved".

Watt had told emergency crews that he had been drinking "heaps" before the crash. A blood test showed he was two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

Defence advocate Gary Allan QC said Watt, from Macduff, a machine operator in Inverurie, had suffered a neck injury in the crash and had tried to kill himself by jumping into a river and a harbour since the incident.

He said: "He wishes to express his shame and remorse for what he has done.

"He bitterly regrets his behaviour in driving his car when he had been drinking and the manner in which he drove it on this tragic occasion."