A 31-year-old man was jailed for nine years after causing a fatal crash in Cumbernauld, fleeing the scene, and posting derogatory videos about the victim
Leigh Sutherland Sentenced for Fatal Crash
Leigh Sutherland, 31, was driving a defective car in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, when he collided with Margaret Allan on June 15, 2023.
Sutherland, a TikTok creator, fled the scene after crashing into Allan, a 77-year-old grandmother, who was driving her 10-year-old grandson home from school. He ignored warnings that his Ford Mondeo was unsafe.
His dashboard indicated that the anti-lock braking system was not functioning. He was also driving with an unsecured battery and was speeding excessively. Just one week before the crash, he had been banned from driving for six months.
Details of the Incident
| Date | Location | Victim | Defendant | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2023 | Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire | Margaret Allan, 77 | Leigh Sutherland, 31 | 9 years in prison, 13.5 years driving ban |
Sutherland crashed into Allan’s Peugeot 108 and walked away from the scene. He was later apprehended by police. While on remand, he made derogatory comments about Allan and posted videos regarding the crash.
He was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in October. Sutherland, also known as Lee Sutherland, had other TikTok videos where he dressed as a police officer and pretended to be a defense lawyer.
Judge’s Remarks
During sentencing, Judge Thomas Hughes criticized Sutherland’s behavior. He stated that Sutherland walked away from the scene without helping those he injured. Police had to stop him from leaving and he made abusive comments about Allan.
Judge Hughes noted that Sutherland fabricated a story about the crash, claiming a Romanian man took his car for a test drive when the accident occurred. He emphasized that Sutherland took no responsibility for his actions.
Aftermath and Reactions
Sutherland was on bail at the time of the crash and had to move from Cumbernauld due to online threats. The judge remarked that Sutherland ignored clear signs of problems with his car and continued to drive, leading to the incident.
Sutherland was sentenced to nine years in prison and disqualified from driving for 13 years and six months. Police Scotland stated that Sutherland had attempted to leave the scene without providing his details.
Defending lawyer Graham Brown mentioned that Sutherland maintained his innocence during interviews. He noted that Sutherland’s life had been affected by autism spectrum disorder and that he had worked sporadically.
Sergeant Andy Coutts from North Lanarkshire roads policing expressed condolences to Allan’s family, highlighting Sutherland’s disregard for road safety and lack of remorse since the incident.
