Motorbike champion guilty of dangerous driving

Published on Friday 6 November 2009 21:46

A CHAMPION Scottish motorbike racer was yesterday cleared of killing an OAP pedestrian but found guilty of dangerous driving.

Former TT legend Alan Duffus, 62, was cleared of allegations of racing against another motorist 40 years his junior, resulting in the death of 67-year-old Senga Elder. But Duffus was found guilty of dangerous driving by a High Court jury in Dundee yesterday.

His co-accused, 22-year-old Grant Whyte, was found guilty of death by dangerous driving and now faces jail after travelling at dangerous and excessive speeds along country roads.

Mrs Elder was struck down by Whyte's Vauxhall Corsa after he skidded out of control just yards from the pensioner's home in Auchtermuchty, Fife, on 24 January, 2008.

At the High Court in Dundee, a jury of ten women and five men took three hours to unanimously find Whyte guilty of death by dangerous driving, after allegations of "racing" were removed from the charge.

Duffus – who had a corner named after him at Scotland's Knockhill raceway – was found not guilty of failing to stop at the crash scene.

After the verdict, Lady Dorrian granted the pair bail and imposed instant driving disqualifications, adding: "You should both be aware of the gravity of the situation you find yourselves in."

Duffus, of Kinnesswood, and Whyte, of North Park, Auchtermuchty, face sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.