Latest news with #PaulCoombs
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Jailed for five years, profoundly deaf thug who drove car at two police officers
A profoundly deaf criminal who tried to mow down two police officers has been jailed for five years. George Drinnan, 39, repeatedly tried to strike PCs Matthew Rhind and Younis Yaqub with his BMW in Dundee in February 2023. The High Court in Edinburgh heard the repeat offender was driving without insurance and had been banned from driving at the time. Drinnan, originally from Dundee, was originally charged with attempted murder - but it was reduced to a charge of assault to danger of life following a trial. He was found guilty of endangering the lives of the two officers at the High Court in Stirling in February. Yesterday, he returned to the dock in the Scottish capital for sentencing before judge Lady Tait. She heard submissions from defence advocate George Gebbie who told her Drinnan's deafness would affect his ability to communicate with others whilst in custody. However, Lady Tait told Drinnan - who had the help of a British Sign Language interpreter to understand proceedings - that he needed to go to prison for his crimes. She said: 'The circumstances of these offences mean that the only appropriate sentence is a custodial one. 'The court must seek to deter such offending behaviour.' At the start of the trial Drinnan's co-accused Paul Coombs pled guilty to a dangerous driving offence committed during the same incident. He also admitted driving without insurance and while disqualified. The 53-year-old, who was also aided by a BSL interpreter, admitted reversing and striking a parked car, causing it to hit another vehicle then driving at speed towards a parked police car. His advocate David Adams said his client's hearing disability had led to difficulties in life. He said: 'He's led a rather isolated life in England. 'When he's not remanded he doesn't really have any accommodation. 'He's had a long-term drug abuse issue. 'Since being remanded he's been provided with medication which has assisted him greatly in managing it.' Mr Adams said if Coombs were to be freed, arrangements had been put in place for homeless accommodation. He added: 'The period of driving by Mr Coombs was limited - he wasn't driving around Dundee, he was in the passenger seat of the co-accused. 'He drove for a short period. 'He accepts fully he should never have got behind the wheel and he shouldn't have driven in that manner. He apologises.' Lady Tait banned Coombs from driving for a total of six years and imprisoned him for 18 months. Yesterday, the court heard Drinnan had previous convictions for dishonesty, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified. Mr Gebbie told Lady Tait that his client was 'profoundly deaf' who had difficulties communicating with people adding the disability would impact on how he would deal with life in prison. He added: 'He is unable to communicate with people who aren't skilled in sigh language. This will affect his ability to communicate with others. 'This will affect his ability to interact with others prisoners.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Deaf criminal jailed for car attack on police officers in Dundee
A profoundly deaf criminal who tried to hit two police officers with his car has been jailed for five Drinnan, 39, was originally charged with attempted murder for the attack in Americanmuir Road, Dundee, in February was reduced to assault to the danger of life at a trial at the High Court in defence lawyer said his deafness would cause him difficulty in jail, however, judge Lady Tait said that prison was the "only appropriate sentence". She said: "The court must seek to deter such offending behaviour." Drinnan was found guilty at the High Court in Stirling earlier this court heard that he was a repeat offender who was driving without insurance and while advocate George Gebbie said Drinnan's profound deafness would affect his ability to communicate with others in Lady Tait told Drinnan - who had the help of a sign language interpreter to follow proceedings - that "the only appropriate sentence is a custodial one".She also banned him from driving for seven involved was Paul Coombs, 53, who admitted driving while disqualified and a dangerous driving offence during the same incident. Lady Tait imprisoned Coombs him for 18 months, and banned him from driving for six years.
