Nurse who killed Ladybank cyclist avoids jail sentence

Jessica Hedley tried to save David Christie by giving him first aid at the side of the road following the horror collision on the A92 near Freuchie.

Hedley had been trying to overtake a truck around 4.30am on February 21 last year when she hit Mr Christie, who was travelling home to Ladybank after going to an all-night garage in Freuchie.

A trial at Dundee Sheriff Court heard that 49-year-old Mr Christie, was riding a bike equipped with a light and was wearing a high-visibilty yellow tabard when the crash occurred. The court was told that Hedley was driving from Dundee to Edinburgh Airport and the “obvious” route via Perth was closed.

A jury heard that when paramedics arrived shortly after the smash they found Hedley giving Mr Christie first aid. He was rushed to Victoria Infirmary where he was found to have multiple fractures throughout his body as well as “substantial” bleeding on the brain. His condition never improved and he died five days later.

Defence solicitor Ross Donnelly said: “She has been extremely remorseful from the outset. This incident has had a considerable impact on her and she has required treatment for panic attacks, anxiety and depression.”

Sheriff Alastair Brown imposed a community payback order with 200 hours unpaid work and banned her from diving for two years.

“There can’t be any link between the number of hours of unpaid work or lengthy of disqualification I give you and the value of Mr Christie’s life. To suggest there might be is an insult to him and his memory.”