A driver with a history of serious traffic offences has been sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison after stealing a luxury car and crashing it into a pensioner's garden, killing him. Fraser Garden, 55, was convicted on 31 July at the High Court in Edinburgh of causing the death of 74-year-old John Bell in Broughty Ferry during an incident in April. According to Police Scotland, Garden pleaded guilty to five separate offences: causing death by dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified, and failing to provide a blood sample for drugs testing.
The High Court heard that Garden, who carried 90 previous convictions and had been subject to two previous lifetime driving bans, had consumed cocaine before getting behind the wheel. Judge Lord Braid described Garden's conduct as an act that robbed a man of his life in what ought to have been the safety of his own home.
On the morning of the collision, Garden stole a red Maserati Quattroporte from West End Garage nearby. He then drove the vehicle at high speed through Broughty Ferry, overtaking other cars and forcing his way into oncoming traffic on multiple roads. The vehicle passed through a red traffic light before Garden accelerated up a hill on the wrong side of the road, where he lost control.
The Maserati struck the kerb, collided with a traffic island, and burst through a hedge into Bell's garden. The car struck Bell and pinned him against a wall. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
How fast was the vehicle travelling?
Data extracted from the car's systems by police showed the Maserati had been travelling at 85mph (136km/h) in a 30mph (48km/h) zone during the 3.5 seconds immediately before impact. This meant Garden was driving at nearly three times the legal speed limit in a residential area.
What was Garden's condition at the time?
Following the crash, Garden tested negative for alcohol but tested positive for cocaine. He declined to provide a blood sample when taken to hospital for medical assessment.
What was John Bell's background?
Bell, known as Jack to those close to him, was a retired taxi driver who had worked in the profession for nearly three decades before stepping down in 2020. Earlier in his working life, he had served as a bus conductor. He left behind a large family: a wife, three children, 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
What were the circumstances leading to the crash?
The court was informed that Garden had been released on bail just one week before the fatal collision while facing multiple shoplifting charges. This release preceded the incident that would result in his conviction for the most serious offences. The crash occurred at the junction of Nursery Road and Forthill Road.
What happens next?
Although Garden was convicted on 31 July, sentencing has been deferred until 21 August at the High Court in Edinburgh. Judge Lord Braid indicated at the time of conviction that he considered Garden's actions to be
truly appalling.
The case represents one of several recent prosecutions involving fatal road collisions in Scotland. Police Scotland has emphasised the dangers of driving while disqualified and under the influence of drugs, particularly in residential areas where pedestrians are at greatest risk.
Key Facts
- Fraser Garden, 55, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and four additional offences on 31 July
- The stolen Maserati Quattroporte was travelling at 85mph in a 30mph zone when it crashed into John Bell's garden
- Garden had 90 previous convictions and two prior lifetime driving bans at the time of the incident
- He had tested positive for cocaine and refused to provide a blood sample
- Sentencing is scheduled for 21 August at the High Court in Edinburgh
