INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT: Former Ross County and Highland League footballer banned from driving after leaving his passenger seriously injured in accident
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A FORMER Ross County and Highland League footballer has been banned from driving for 32 months after a lift home nearly ended in tragedy for his passenger.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Steven Ross (29) of New Street, Shandwick, was at a birthday party on February 2, 2019 in the Revolution bar in Inverness.
He met apprentice electrician Grant Reilly in the bar and told him he would give him a lift home to Tain.
Fiscal depute Susan Love told the court previously that as Ross came on to the Tore roundabout on the A9, travelling at excessive speed, “for some reason he turned left towards Muir of Ord”.
She said: “A short distance later he lost control, his vehicle overturned and crashed into a fence and trees.
“The car ended up on its roof in a field. Other motorists stopped to assist.”
She added that Mr Reilly suffered a collapsed lung, a fractured collar bone and other more minor injuries.
“He has since made a full recovery,” Ms Love told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald.
Ross had previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Sentence had been deferred for a background report.
Ross’s solicitor Rory Gowans said his client was “remorseful” at what had happened on the night in question.
Mr Gowans added: “He is aware that this is a serious matter.
“It was a very bad decision by Mr Ross.”
Sheriff Macdonald described his driving as “reckless and negligent”.
She added: “You’re lucky this was not worse.”
A community payback order with 225 hours of unpaid work was also imposed as well as the driving ban.
Ross will need to resit his test.
