Latest news with #Bairner
The Courier
7 days ago
- The Courier
Van driver sentenced for 'distressing' crash at Perth Airport that left victim needing plastic surgery
A van driver who knocked down a pedestrian at Scone Airport, leaving him seriously injured, has been sentenced to unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody. Paul Wishart struck the 61-year-old coffin factory worker as he made his way into work on the morning of October 3 2022. Perth Sheriff Court heard how Wishart, 37, did not realise what had happened until he stopped his Renault Trafic and saw his victim lying on the road. The man, who was described by witnesses as 'flying' through the air, suffered multiple injuries and required plastic surgery to his face. Wishart, from Methven, was found guilty of causing serious injury by careless driving following a two-day trial in April. He was banned from driving for three years when he returned to court for sentencing on Monday. Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC told Wishart: 'You have expressed significant remorse and you appear to appreciate the consequences of your driving on that day.' She said his victim 'suffered serious injuries and will be permanently impaired' but given his lack of criminal record – with one non-analogous traffic conviction – the sheriff said she was satisfied there was an alternative to custody available. Wishart was ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work. His solicitor Pauline Cullerton said: 'There had been nothing unusual as he drove to work that morning. 'He remembers hearing a thud and then saw the crack on his windscreen. 'He stopped the car and got out and was shocked to see (the complainer) lying on the road.' Ms Cullerton stressed her client had not been speeding. The court heard there were traffic calming measures including speed bumps on the road. She said Wishart took responsibility for the 'distressing' injuries he had caused. Jurors heard how Wishart had not seen the pedestrian as he crossed Spitfire Avenue, having stepped off a bus on the nearby A94. The victim was 'propelled' through the air and landed on the carriageway. Emergency services were scrambled to the scene just after 7am and the injured man was rushed to Ninewells Hospital. The busy commuter route was closed off for about an hour. Fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner read out a list of the victim's injuries, as recorded in a joint minute of agreed facts. He suffered rib fractures, a cut to the right side of his face and a broken knee. His left middle finger was also dislocated. Ms Bairner said the victim underwent an operation to fix his knee, which involved a plate being inserted by an orthopaedic surgeon. 'The facial laceration was cleaned, sealed and closed by a plastic surgeon,' she said. The man was discharged from hospital five days later. Witnesses told the court of chaotic scenes in the aftermath of the early morning smash, with blood in the middle of the roadway. Ms Bairner said in her closing statement to jurors: 'It is not suggested that Mr Wishart intended to hurt anyone but as a driver, you need to drive safely.' Wishart was originally charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Jurors took less than an hour to convict him of a lesser charge involving driving carelessly.
The Courier
16-05-2025
- The Courier
Love rival injured Ukrainian refugee in Coupar Angus hot coffee attack after affair discovery
A chicken factory worker left a Ukrainian refugee scarred and injured in a horror attack after discovering she was having an affair with her partner. The 49-year-old victim was left with blisters and hearing loss after love rival Mioara Sosu, 42, hurled a scalding cup of coffee over her head. The hot liquid attack came a few minutes after the man at the centre of their love rivalry had been forced to step in to stop Sosu raining blows on the refugee's head. Perth Sheriff Court was told that the trio had ended up living together in Coupar Angus after the complainer rented a room from the Romanian couple when she arrived in Scotland from her war-torn homeland. Fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner told the court: 'The accused is a Romanian national who moved to Scotland for work and is employed in a local factory. 'She and (her partner) have been in a relationship for 14 years. 'The victim is a Ukrainian refugee who moved to Scotland on 28 June 2023 due to the war in Ukraine. 'She was renting a room from the accused and her partner, having been introduced by a third party who assists integration for foreign nationals.' Ms Bairner said: 'Prior to this incident, the victim describes a good relationship, with them doing a number of things together. 'At 11am on 8 October 2023 the victim went into the kitchen to make food. 'Sosu walked into the kitchen and said something in Romanian, which she could not understand, before punching her to the left side of the head twice. '(The partner) heard the commotion and attended the kitchen and removed Sosu to calm the situation. He asked the victim to phone the police, but she elected not to, as it had calmed down.' The prosecutor said: 'Approximately 15 minutes later, the victim returned to the kitchen. 'Sosu followed her into the kitchen and made herself a coffee. She grabbed the mug and threw boiling coffee over the victim's face. 'Again, the partner heard the commotion and saw her upset and with face-reddening. The victim went to wash the coffee off and she left to obtain cream for the burn.' Ms Bairner added: 'The accused stated to police that she believed the victim to be in a relationship with her partner.' Sosu told officers: 'She did something when she was in the house with my friend. She provoked me to throw hot coffee on her. 'I know what she did was wrong, but if she had not done to me what she did I wouldn't have done what I done.' Sosu admitted attacking the woman by repeatedly punching her on the head and throwing a mug of hot liquid over her, to her severe injury, disfigurement and impairment. The attack took place at the home they shared in Union Street, Coupar Angus, on 8 October 2023. The court was told the victim was treated for blisters in her ear and suffered from scarring and from a loss of hearing as a result of the attack. Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, said: 'She has pled guilty to a serious assault and I suspect background reports will be required.' Sheriff Simon Collins deferred sentence for reports and warned Sosu that she could face being sent to prison because of the serious nature of the attack. He removed her travel documents as a condition of bail, and told Sosu: 'You should not assume because I am not remanding you that you will not receive a prison sentence.'
The Courier
28-04-2025
- The Courier
Worker needed plastic surgery after 'careless' crash at Perth Airport
A coffin factory worker needed plastic surgery to his face after he was struck by a van at Perth Airport and thrown through the air. The 61-year-old was hit as he walked to work on the morning of October 3 2022. Perth Sheriff Court heard how the pedestrian's head smashed off the windscreen of a silver Renault Trafic driven by Methven man Paul Wishart. Witnesses told how they heard a car revving before seeing the victim 'flying across the road'. Wishart, 37, denied a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. But after a two-day trial, jurors took less than an hour to convict him of a lesser charge of driving carelessly. Court papers state the crash left the victim seriously injured and permanently impaired. Wishart, of Sauchob Crescent, will be sentenced later this summer. The jury heard how Wishart had failed to observe the pedestrian as he crossed Spitfire Avenue, having stepped off a bus on the nearby A94. The victim was 'propelled' through the air and landed on the carriageway. Emergency services were scrambled to the scene just after 7am and the injured man was rushed to Ninewells Hospital. The busy commuter route was closed off for about an hour. Fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner read out a list of the victim's injuries, as recorded in a joint minute of agreed facts. He suffered rib fractures, a cut to the right side of his face and a broken knee. His left middle finger was also dislocated. Ms Bairner said the victim underwent an operation to fix his knee, which involved a plate being inserted by an orthopaedic surgeon. 'The facial laceration was cleaned, sealed and closed by a plastic surgeon,' she said. The man was discharged from hospital five days later. Witnesses told the court of chaotic scenes in the aftermath of the early morning smash, with blood in the middle of the roadway. Ms Bairner said in her closing statement to jurors: 'It is not suggested that Mr Wishart intended to hurt anyone. 'But as a driver, you need to drive safely.'
