Drug debtor's deadly race

Published 21 Apr 2010 12:00

A DRUNK drug user - who thought he was being chased in his car over unpaid debts - smashed into a central reservation before continuing on a death defying drive.

Charles McGinley had been in a petrol station in Drumry where he claims he spotted the men and "feared" they would do him harm.

So the 40-year-old jumped into his silver Renault Laguna and drove off, pursued by the other men in a silver Ford Focus.

A road duel between the two vehicles ensued with the cars passing each other and reaching speeds of up to 80mph.

Jeanette McLean, fiscal depute, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday that witnesses saw McGinley "apparently racing" this other car at around 8.40pm and weaving from lane to lane.

McGinley then attempted to undertake the Focus but lost control and skidded across two lanes and smashed into a crash barrier near the Boulevard Hotel.

After the crash the other car did a swift U-turn and drove off in the other direction.

Meanwhile, McGinley, despite his car being "extremely damaged", drove towards Kilbowie Roundabout.

Whilst turning right onto Kilbowie Road towards Hardgate the bonnet of the damaged motor flew up causing McGinley to swerve across the road.

Two off-duty police officers saw what was happening and went in pursuit of McGinley who failed to stop.

After more deadly driving, in which McGinley swerved in front of cars on Milton Douglas Road, Hardgate, he finally came to a standstill in a car park.

When police approached they could smell alcohol from him and he was unsteady on his feet, but McGinley refused to provide breath specimens.

Scott Adair, defending, said: "His explanation for the initial driving is that he had built up over a period of time certain drug debts.

"He saw two of his drug pushers in the garage and was aware there were debts outstanding to them and jumped in his car to get away from them.

"They were in the other vehicle on the A82 but he was not aware that the other car had done a U-turn and left the scene.

"Having been in the accident and having the concerns about the drug pushers still being about, that was why he drove off to Kilbowie Road.

"When he saw people coming towards his car, who turned out to be the off-duty police officers, he had other concerns and in his het-up state drove off again.

"About three or four years ago he was subjected to a fairly serious assault and these injuries were inflicted upon him by drug dealers to whom he owed money.

"So he did have some genuine concerns about his safety when he saw these drug dealers."

McGinley had previously admitted driving dangerously at various locations on May 3 last year and failing to provide breath specimens.

Sentencing, Sheriff Simon Pender said: "This was an appalling piece of driving and I do not take that the reason advised excuses it.

"If you were concerned for your safety then there were other courses of action which you could have taken.

"Your record is a bad one and charge two is your second drink drive offence."

McGinley, of 4-3 Milton Douglas Road, Hardgate, was jailed for four months and banned from driving for five years.

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 21 Apr 10

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