Driver who crashed car into family's living-room in Kirkintilloch is jailed

Ross Aitken, 23, from Kirkintilloch, ploughed into the house at Waterside Road on October 27, 2014.

The car struck Lindy Wright and Holly Wright - who was just 13 at the time – and more than £41,000 of damage was caused.

Aitken, who is a barber, pled guilty on June 28 and was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.

He admitted a charge of dangerous driving after the white Vauxhall Astra smashed through the wall of the Wright family’s home at the junction of Bankhead Road and Waterside Road, Kirkintilloch.

He was charged, too, with driving at excessive speed, failing to slow down and losing control of the vehicle causing it to leave the roadway.

Aitken also admitted causing Lindy Wright serious injury and permanent disfigurement and also injuring Holly Wright.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Martin Jones QC said: “Young drivers have to understand that they bear the same responsibility as any other road user.

“Where this type of driving arises the court has to take steps to ensure everyone who drives on the road knows if they cause severe injury by dangerous driving then the consequences for the driver will be serious and significant.”

The court previously heard that the crash happened when Lindy Wright and her husband Stephen were at their home on Waterside Road. Their teenage daughter was in the living room at the time.

Mr Wright went into the kitchen about 7pm when Aitken’s car failed to stop at a nearby give way junction.

It then mounted the kerb, went on to a grass verge, through a metal pedestrian railing, over a communications box before ploughing into the Wright’s front garden and into their living room window.

As the car crashed into the house it propelled Mrs Wright and the young girl into the dining room.

Mr Wright heard an “almighty bang” and saw his wife staggering towards him when he ran towards the living room.

She collapsed in the kitchen with her leg covered in blood. Neighbours took Holly and another child out of the house.

Police arrived at the scene and Aitken told them: “It was me, I was driving. My brakes didn’t work. Are they okay?”

He claimed he was driving about 40mph but witnesses estimated it was faster.

Mrs Wright was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she underwent surgery to remove tissue from her leg wound and received 30 stitches. She was left with permanent scarring.

Holly was treated for heavy bruising and scratches to her left leg which later developed a blot clot, requiring surgery.

Aitken’s defence council told the sheriff court that he was very remorseful and wished to apologise to the Wright family ‘profusely.’

She said: “Since this incident he has not been able to stop thinking about this.”

She added that the episode was going round and round inside her client’s head and he had been prescribed medication by his GP.