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Banned driver in stolen Maserati killed pensioner in garden in 85mph crash

Graeme Ogston and Morag KinniburghBBC Scotland
Police Scotland A man wearing a cap, a denim shirt and rectangular glasses sitting in a garden - he is smiling and looking off to the right of the cameraPolice Scotland
John Bell, known as Jack to friends and family, was killed in the crash in Broughty Ferry

A disqualified driver with 90 previous convictions has admitted causing the death of a great-grandfather after crashing into his garden and hitting him with a stolen car.

Fraser Garden, 55, killed John Bell, also known as Jack, in Broughty Ferry when the crash happened in April.

A court was told Garden, who had been given two previous lifetime driving bans, was driving at almost three times the speed limit and had taken cocaine.

Judge Lord Braid, who described Garden's actions as "truly appalling", deferred sentence until 21 August.

Police Scotland A police mugshot of a shaven-headed man whose face has several cuts on itPolice Scotland
Fraser Garden had previously been given two lifetime driving bans

Garden pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to causing 74-year-old John Bell's death by dangerous driving.

The court was told that Garden had been released on bail over multiple shoplifting charges a week before the fatal crash.

On the day of the collision he had stolen a Maserati Quattroporte from the nearby West End Garage.

Garden then drove it at speed, overtaking vehicles and forcing his way between oncoming traffic.

He then drove through a red light before speeding up a hill on the wrong side of the road.

Garden then lost control of the car, which clipped the kerb, hit a traffic island, and crashed through a hedge into John Bell's garden, hitting the pensioner and pinning him to a wall.

COPFS The front of a badly damaged red Maserati QuattroporteCOPFS
The red Maserati Quattroporte was stolen from a nearby garage

John Bell's widow saw Garden get out of the car "dazed and glazed" and walk away.

The court heard that neighbours approached Garden to make sure he did not leave the scene.

Bell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Garden later tested negative for alcohol but positive for cocaine, and refused to give a blood sample when he was taken to hospital.

Data downloaded from the car by police revealed it had been travelling at 85mph (136km/h) in a 30mph (48km/h) zone in the 3.5 seconds before the collision.

Police and ambulance outside a white property on the junction of two roads. Police officers are checking the road.
The incident happened at the junction of Nursery Road and Forthill Road in April

The court was told that John Bell was married with three children and 10 grandchildren.

He had retired in 2020 after almost 30 years working as a taxi driver, and had previously worked as a bus conductor.

The court heard that he also had nine great-grandchildren.

Lord Braid thanked members of his family for submitting statements detailing the loss of their relative.