Scots lorry driver who snorted cocaine before shift then killed OAP crossing road jailed for over six years

Scottish Sun

28-05-2025

The court horrific details of how the tragic collision unfolded after the drug driver got behind the wheel
COKED-UP DRIVER CAGED Scots lorry driver who snorted cocaine before shift then killed OAP crossing road jailed for over six years
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A COCAINE-fuelled lorry driver who killed a pensioner as he crossed the road has been jailed for six and a half years.
Edward Feelie failed to stop at a red light and mowed down Robert Shirra-Gibb in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
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Edward Feelie failed to stop at a red light and mowed down Robert Shirra-Gibb, pictured
Credit: Police Scotland
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The 54 year-old had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow
Credit: Getty
The 84 year-old - who had to be freed from under the Isuzu flatbed truck - sadly never recovered from the collision days before Christmas 2023.
Cocaine addict Feelie had taken the drug before starting his shift that morning.
A judge commented how Feelie "staggeringly" used the class A substance regularly over the previous decade "as a mechanism to get ready for work and be alert".
The 54 year-old had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow.
He was sentenced by Lord Arthurson at a hearing in Inverness.
The jail-term was cut from nine and a half years due to the guilty plea.
Feelie, also of Blantyre, was banned from driving for life.
The tragedy occurred around 6pm on December 19 2023.
Another motorist that evening had spotted Mr Shirra-Gibb crossing the town's Glasgow Road.
Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel then explained: "Mr Shirra-Gibb made it across the eastbound carriageway.
Driver who took 'at least 20 lines of cocaine' before killing girl, 3, in horror tram crash is jailed
"However, on entering the westbound, he was struck by Feelie's vehicle.
"He appeared to fail to slow or react to a red light as well as the presence of Mr Shirra-Gibb upon crossing."
The dad-of-two was propelled forward before being trapped under the lorry.
Miss Dalziel said Feelie - who had been working as a traffic management operative - immediately got out appearing "shocked and agitated".
However, he initially seemed unaware of a stricken Mr Shirra-Gibb being helped by others.
Mercy crews arrived and the OAP, of Coatshill, Lanarkshire, was rushed to hospital.
The court heard he had suffered "catastrophic" pelvic, chest and back injuries.
He also had a bleed on the brain and passed away the next day.
Crash investigators found the red traffic signal that night had been showing for 11 seconds before the collision.
Mr Shirra-Gibb had been on the road for around seven seconds.
Miss Dalziel said Feelie's lorry "did not deviate until the moment of impact".
A blood sample was taken from Feelie at a police station after the incident.
It was found to contain 67mg of cocaine per litre of blood. The specified limit is 10mg.
The sentencing hearing was told that in a background psychological report it emerged Feelie admitted to taking "large quantities" of cocaine initially at weekends then daily for the past 10 years.
He was also a regular cannabis user.
Lord Arthurson told Feelie that he was guilty of a "shocking crime". He was said to have been "struggling to show empathy" for his victim.
The judge stated: "You took cocaine and then drove your lorry without a second thought for the catastrophic potential consequences of such conduct for other road users."
Lord Arthurson paid tribute to Mr Shirra-Gibb described as a "man of faith" who was "deeply loved" and will be "profoundly missed" by his family and local community.