A motorist who caused a horror two-car smash in Moray following a police chase has been jailed for 30 months.
A sheriff said Jodie Cormack, from Buckie, it was one of the “most horrendous” examples of careless driving he’d ever heard of.
The 28-year-old – who did not have a driving licence – flaunted speed limits and carried out death-defying overtaking manoeuvres on the A98 in Moray.
He ploughed into a Peugeot 308 between Fochabers and Banff on Boxing Day last year.
Six people were injured in the crash near near Rannachy, which took place at about 3.15pm.
One had to be airlifted to Inverness for emergency treatment with serious injuries, while the other casualties were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in Elgin.
Cormack was said to have driven a Ford Focus ST at speeds “grossly in excess” of the 60mph speed limit, while overtaking other vehicles in the face of oncoming traffic.
An investigation was launched by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) following the incident due to a “short pursuit” taking place ahead of the crash.
It is understood, however, that the pursuit had concluded at the time of the crash. A report will be submitted to the Chief Constable when the probe has concluded.
Sentencing Cormack, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told him: “What I have heard represents one of the most horrendous examples of causing serious injury by dangerous driving that I have heard.
“From the narrative that was given you drove in an unbelievably dangerous fashion.
“It included an attempted overtake that could potentially have had tragic and life-threatening consequences and indeed resulted in serious injuries to various occupants in the other vehicle.”
Sheriff Cruickshank explained the offences could have led to a prison sentence of up to five years.
Cormack, of Milton Drive in Buckie, banned from the road for nine years and three months after also pleading guilty to charges of driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance.