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

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.

Garden pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to causing 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.