A social media influencer has been sentenced to nine years in prison after causing a fatal collision that killed a grandmother and then posting 'derogatory' videos about the victim on TikTok.
A Catastrophic Collision and Callous Aftermath
Leigh Sutherland, a 31-year-old from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, was driving a defective Ford Mondeo on 15 June 2023 when he crashed into a Peugeot 108 driven by 77-year-old Margaret Allan. Mrs Allan was returning from school with her 10-year-old grandson at the time of the collision.
The court at Glasgow High Court heard that Sutherland was driving despite knowing his vehicle was unsafe. His dashboard showed the anti-lock braking system was faulty, and he was speeding with an unsecured battery. Shockingly, he had been banned from driving for six months just one week before the fatal incident.
Following the crash, Sutherland immediately left the scene on foot, abandoning the injured. He was later apprehended by police. Tragically, Margaret Allan died from her injuries almost a month later, on 6 July 2023.
Online Boasts and 'Cock and Bull' Stories
While on remand awaiting trial, Sutherland used his TikTok account, where he also posed as a police officer and fake defence lawyer, to post videos about the case. In one clip, he bragged about getting a 'client' off a conviction, claiming 'there’s a defence for every offence'.
He also made abusive comments about his victim, Mrs Allan. When questioned by police after her death, Sutherland concocted what Judge Thomas Hughes called a 'cock and bull story'. He falsely claimed he had advertised the car for sale and that an unidentified Romanian man was test-driving it when the accident occurred.
At his sentencing hearing on Friday, Judge Hughes condemned Sutherland's 'totally and utterly unacceptable' attitude. 'You proceeded to walk away from the area, paying no regard to those you injured and left them to their fate,' the judge stated. 'Your conduct made matters worse.'
Sentence and Community Impact
In October, following a trial, Sutherland was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and disqualified from driving for 13 years and six months.
The court was told Sutherland was on bail at the time of the crash and had to relocate from Cumbernauld due to online threats. His defence lawyer, Graham Brown, said Sutherland continued to 'protest his innocence' and that his life had been 'dictated by autistic spectrum disorder'.
Sergeant Andy Coutts of North Lanarkshire roads policing said: 'Sutherland’s actions showed a blatant disregard for other road users and the law, and since the incident he has showed no remorse. Our thoughts remain with Margaret’s family, who have been dignified and strong throughout this tragic ordeal.'
