Inverness woman told to expect at least four years imprisonment for Merkinch crash

A woman who crashed a car into an Inverness building injuring three men has been told to expect at least four years behind bars when she is sentenced.

Donna Stewart (46) had originally faced three counts of attempted murder for the 2021 incident but agreed a plea bargain to lesser charges.

The charges of attempted murder of her three passengers were dropped and she instead pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving while intoxicated.

Her passengers, Stephen MacDonald, John Fraser and Hugh Lowther – her partner – were all taken to Raigmore Hospital and had to undergo surgery for multiple broken bones.

Both Mr Lowther and Mr Fraser had to be transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a time while Mr MacDonald spent three days in intensive care at Raigmore.

Deputy advocate John Macpherson told the High Court in Aberdeen today that on the night of the incident, Stewart and Lowther had been seen “arguing loudly” with each other at two addresses in the city.

He said that Stewart had at “some point” discovered Lowther had been unfaithful and had “reneged” on a promise to stop taking drugs.

“This appears to have been the catalyst for her drinking heavily and becoming upset,” he said.

Mr Macpherson told the court that Stewart and the three men had left a property in Kessock Avenue, Inverness at around 9pm, with Stewart insisting upon driving her car.

“Mr Lowther was sat directly behind Stewart," Mr Macpherson said. "Mr MacDonald was in the front passenger seat, with Mr Fraser sat directly behind him. Neither Mr Lowther nor Mr MacDonald were wearing seatbelts.

“The three men later stated to police that they were all shouting at Stewart to slow down.

“Mr Fraser also told police that he saw Lowther grabbing Stewart by the back of the hair, telling her to use the brakes.”

During the journey, Mr Macpherson said, Mr MacDonald had “at one point” seen the speedometer reach 80mph.

CCTV footage shown to the court captured her Mercedes car crashing at speed into the former William Hill betting shop in Grant Street in the Merkinch area of Inverness, causing extensive damage.

The building was rendered unsafe with all the occupants having to be evacuated, the court was told.

A drugs test taken from Stewart later that night gave a negative result, but a later blood sample showed she was almost twice the legal limit of alcohol allowable for driving.

Stewart’s defence advocate Justine Green said Stewart had accepted her speed was “inappropriate” but did not accept that it had been 80mph.

She said Stewart also disputed how many bottles of wine she had consumed, after the court had heard evidence from witness Sarah Marshall that she had seen her consume two bottles at her house in Kirkhill earlier the same day.

“There was only one bottle available for her to drink,” Ms Green said.

She explained that Stewart had “objected” when she saw Mr MacDonald passing drugs to the back seat passengers, adding: “That is what caused the shouting”.

She said Stewart had “no recollection” of the moments just before the crash and told the court she had been suffering from anxiety since.

The court heard that the couple are still together and living in Perth with three of their five children.

Stewart was described as being the carer for Mr Lowther.

Sheriff Graham Buchanan explained that new sentencing guidelines meant prison was "inevitable” with a “starting point of four years”.

He said there had been a “high degree of culpability and harm” caused by Ms Stewart and he must take into account the public safety aspect, adding: “It was fortunate no one else was affected.”

He disqualified Stewart from driving and withdrew her bail sending her to be remanded in custody until her sentencing hearing in October.

Stewart will appear at the High Court in Dundee on October 11.