Jail term for crash driver

Brian Phimister Pic: Police Scotland/PA Wire

Callum Brown (20) was 18 when his actions led to the death of Brian Phimister in June last year in the crash between Kirkcaldy and Coaltown of Wemyss

He was locked up for three years and four months for the offence at the High Court in Paisley on Tuesday.

The High Court in Edinburgh previously heard how police investigators estimated Brown was driving at least 58 miles per hour on the 40 mph speed limit road.

Brown, who had a previous conviction for speeding, was negotiating a bend when he lost control of the car.

Prosecution lawyer Jane Farquharson told Judge Craig Scott QC that a woman who lived nearby rushed to the collision scene and was horrified at what she saw.

She added: “The first paramedic on the scene observed the car, it was lying on its side and folded around the tree.”

It was obvious to the paramedic, Ms Farquharson said, that Mr Phimister was dead.

Brown, of Links Street, Kirkcaldy, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ms Farquharson told Judge Scott that Brown was good friends with Mr Phimister, an apprentice mechanic and they spent most evenings driving around the local area.

The court heard the fire service had to cut Brown free and the car had to be “righted” to allow Mr Phimister to be removed.

“From the marks on the road and the damage profile seen on the car, the accused Mr Brown approached the bend in the road at excessive speed whilst trying to take the shortest possible route around the inside of the bend, he lost control of his vehicle which caused the car to yaw,” said Ms Farquharson

“This in turn caused his car to be travel off the road and strike the tree.”

While Brown was taken to hospital for treatment he told a paramedic he would normally drop down to third gear for that corner but had been tired that night and didn’t.

Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said his client had expressed remorse for what happened.

He added: “Mr Brown appreciates that his expression of remorse will be of no comfort to the friends and family of Mr Phimister.”