Former bus driver banned for two years after Carrbridge 'road rage' incident
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A bus driver who crushed a motorist into his vehicle after a "road rage" incident was banned from driving for two years today.
Former police special constable Nigel Dunn was also ordered to resit the extended driving test of competence before he can get behind the wheel again.
In addition, the 52-year-old who now works in a supermarket after resigning from Stagecoach shortly after the incident, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Dunn appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court following preparation of a background report,
Sheriff Margaret Neilson told him:"No-one can look behind a jury's verdict. It was an unusual case because there weren't any of the aggravating factors associated with dangerous driving - no excessive speed as CCTV showed speeds of 0-3mph and no extended period of dangerous driving.
"It was at the lower end of the scale of dangerous driving but there were disastrous consequences."
The jury trial heard that there was an angry exchange between Dunn and a retired Inverness shop owner, Les Crichton, now aged 78, on March 22, 2017 in the car park in Carrbridge.
Dunn complained about where Mr Crichton had parked after the former owner of Ness Freezer Foods in Inverness was walking back to his car.
But Dunn drove off, trapping Mr Crichton between the two, fracturing his pelvis in two places. He was then rolled the length of his Kia Sportage, damaging doors and panels.
Dunn had denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving in the first jury trial at the new multi million pounds Inverness Justice Centre since the Covid outbreak disrupted court proceedings last March.
He was found guilty by a majority by the jurors who were located in Eden Court Theatre a mile away and linked by video to Sheriff Neilson's court.
The jury heard that Mr Crichton stopped for a call of nature.
Mr Crichton explained he had a muscle problem and preferred to walk the short distance to the toilet by parking close to it.
However when he returned, Dunn was angry, claiming that he couldn't get past his car.
Mr Crichton told the jury: "We had words. I suggested that if he couldn't drive the bus through the space, he shouldn't be driving, which was probably the wrong thing to do."
Mr Crichton said his injuries were complicated after he fell ill a couple of days later. It was suspected the arm of the broken wing mirror had damaged his upper intestine, causing a leakage and poisoning his system.
He was in hospital for five weeks, in a wheelchair for the same period, and then had weeks of physiotherapy.
As a result of the fracture, his left leg is shorter than the other but his lop-sided gait has been corrected by a shoe support. He still walks with a stick.
Defence solicitor Nigel Beaumont told the court: "He was badly affected by the accident.
"He has been driving since he was 17 with no convictions. He was a well-liked bus driver and has had many messages of support. But he drifted into a depression because of this.
"It has taken a toll on his health and I would submit it is at the lower end of the scale of dangerous driving, albeit the dreadful consequences for Mr Crichton."
