Drunk man drove over best friend after row

Scott Gibb drunkenly drove his car over Daniel Flynn during a row about the way the victim had been mocked for falling into a deep puddle.

Gibb, 28, left his friend of 15 years needing surgery with broken bones in his foot and leg.

Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday the party they were with had spent the day on the River Tay, before going out for the night in Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

The court was told that as Mr Flynn had been walking back to the hotel he had staggered and fallen into a puddle and was laughed at by the rest of the group.

Fiscal depute John Malpass said: “At 11:20pm they decided to walk back to the Weem Hotel from Aberfeldy. Due to his inebriated state, Mr Flynn began to fall behind the group.

“He stumbled and fell into a large puddle, which caused all of the other members of the party to laugh at him. This resulted in him beginning to argue with the group.

“He was taken to his room by his partner, but continued to argue. The accused became involved in that argument and decided to defuse the situation by entering his car to drive away.

“The accused … reversed over the complainer, before driving off.”

Mr Malpass said Gibb was spotted driving a short distance away and was stopped.

The court was told he was found to be almost double the legal alcohol limit. Gibb, of Ewing Street, Penicuik, admitted drink-driving in Aberfeldy on 26 September last year.

He also admitted driving carelessly and injuring Mr Flynn in the hotel car park. He was banned from driving for a year and fined £1,200.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie described it as “a cautionary tale”, which showed the perils of drinking heavily.