A man who left a young woman paralysed from the neck down after crashing into a car at high speed has been jailed for three years.
The 27-year-old woman was left paralysed after the Ford Fiesta she was travelling in was hit from behind by Gavin Coull’s BMW on the southbound lane of the A90 near Ellon, Aberdeenshire in March 2021.
Moments before the impact, Coull, 32, of Fraserburgh, uploaded a dashcam video online that showed his car’s speedometer reaching 100 miles per hour.
He was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday after a jury previously found him guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and of driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
The court heard how Coull and a fellow passenger were travelling southbound on the dual carriageway late on the evening of March 11 2021, the Crown Office said.
Jurors were shown the dashcam footage Coull uploaded to Snapchat, which was captioned “burning the midnight oil” and highlighted the car’s excessive speed.
The collision caused the Fiesta to smash through crash barriers and tumble onto a grassy embankment off the A90, prosecutors said.
The court was told that the driver of the Fiesta also suffered serious injuries.
After the crash, a blood sample showed evidence of drugs in Coull’s system.
Alison McKenzie, Procurator Fiscal for Aberdeen, said: “This young woman suffered catastrophic injuries as a direct consequence of Gavin Coull’s dangerous driving.
“In a split second, she was deprived of the normal and rich life she was entitled to expect.
“Yet she showed enormous bravery and courage in harrowing circumstances to give evidence to the court.
“Hopefully, she and her family will gain some comfort from the fact that justice has been served and that the accused will now spend time in prison as a result of his crimes.”
Coull was found guilty on August 22 following a trial at Peterhead Sheriff Court.
He was sentenced to three years behind bars when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for sentencing on Friday, the Crown Office said.
Police Sergeant Craig McNeill of the Road Policing Unit said: “Coull’s disregard for road safety has had a devastating impact on this young woman.
“His actions highlight the disastrous consequences of dangerous driving and the lasting impact it has on those involved, along with their families and friends.
“Drivers must obey speed limits and respect the safety of other road users. Drivers are responsible for their actions and the temptation to take risks can have severe and long-lasting consequences for everyone involved.”
