8 hours ago
Lorry driver who struck and killed cyclist in Bearsden sentenced
James Peat, 62, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday, June 19, after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.
According to a statement published on the Judiciary of Scotland's website, the court heard that Peat had been driving a HGV lorry south on Drymen Road during rush hour on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
Drymen Road on March 19, 2024 (Image: Newsquest staff)
At this time, Una Brandreth, 56, was cycling along Drymen Road in the same direction.
Due to the volume of traffic, there was a large queue of slow-moving traffic which Peat was in.
Peat was stopped on Drymen Road at the junction with Manse Road, and Ms Brandreth cycled on the left-hand side to continue straight.
Without indicating, Peat turned left into Manse Road, hitting Ms Brandreth, and she was dragged under the wheels of the HGV.
Peat was unaware he had struck the cyclist and drove on whilst people phoned the emergency services.
A doctor was called to the scene shortly before 9am when Ms Brandreth was pronounced dead.
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A reconstruction of the crash was carried out in April, 2024 (Image: Newsquest staff)
Sheriff Frances McCartney stated that she had read a victim impact statement from members of Ms Brandreth's family, including her son.
Ms Brandreth led a full life; she loved the outdoors and had a distinguished career in the field of quantum and laser physics.
Sheriff McCartney added that Ms Brandreth touched the lives of many, including her family and the outdoor community.
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Una Brandreth (Image: Police Scotland)
Her family reported that the weight of her absence was overwhelming, and their loss has been devastating.
In sentencing Peat, Sheriff McCartney commented: 'You show a high level of remorse for the offence.
'You have been assessed by a criminal justice social worker as not to require any intervention from the criminal justice social work department.
'Where an offender has never served a sentence of custody before, the law is that the court should not impose a custodial sentence unless there is no alternative.
'My conclusion based on all the circumstances, but particularly your background and the information in the Criminal Justice social work report, is that there is an alternative to custody.'
Peat was placed on a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work and was tagged for two months.
He was also banned from driving for 24 months.
