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Driver caused £100k of damage in Glasgow car crash

Driver caused £100k of damage in Glasgow car crash

Glasgow Times05-08-2025
Derek Bowden, 26, wrote off every vehicle during the mass collision outside Glasgow's Maryhill police office on July 29, 2024.
Bowden was behind the wheel of a stolen Ford Ranger while he was under the influence.
Bowden pleaded guilty today at Glasgow Sheriff Court to a string of charges which included dangerous driving, car theft and possession of a knife in a public place.
The court heard that officers at the police station heard the sound of tyres screeching and a loud bang from outside at 11.10pm.
Officers were alerted by members of the public to Bowden who had been in the Ford Ranger.
Prosecutor Victoria Keel added: "Officers also saw extensive damage to a Mercedes.
"A total of eight vehicles were damaged extensively."
Maryhill Road was then closed off temporarily.
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Bowden - whose breath smelled of alcohol - failed a roadside breath test and was arrested meantime.
He then blew two specimens of breath which were below the legal limit at a police station.
However, Bowden informed police that he had earlier smoked cannabis and later failed a drugs test.
Bowden went on to refuse an alcohol blood test with a doctor despite his initial agreement.
He said: "F*** off, you can charge me with whatever."
A search of his person also recovered a knife with a three-inch blade in his underwear.
CCTV later showed Bowden driving at excessive speed before the collision.
An investigation found that the vehicle belonged to a Paul Smith who had left his vehicle earlier that day in a car park at a location called The Hut.
He found that the premises had windows smashed with a brick but nothing was noted to be missing.
READ MORE: Man responsible for Castlemilk murder back in dock for this reason
Miss Keel stated that the damage to the eight vehicles which were "written off" cost a total of £100,500.
Each individual cost of the damage to the cars ranged between £2,000 and £27,000.
Vehicles included two Mercedes, two Ford Vehicles, two Vauxhalls, a Renault and a Peugeot.
The fiscal depute added that Mr Smith's insurance doubled as a result of the incident.
Des Ziolo, defending, told the court that it was "fortunate" no one was injured.
It was also revealed that Bowden is currently serving an eight-month sentence imposed upon him at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
Sheriff John McCormick ordered that his latest 33-month sentence run consecutively.
He was also disqualified from driving for eight years.
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