A man under the influence of alcohol drove his car onto the sidewalk, hitting four individuals and causing severe injuries. Christopher Parry, who had consumed excessive alcohol after a night at Purple nightclub in Buckie, Scotland, was stopped by club-goers as he attempted to leave in his car. Despite efforts to prevent him from driving, Parry proceeded to get behind the wheel and drive away.
During the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, it was revealed that Parry’s car struck Michael Rodgers, who tried to stop him, along with Ashley Rodgers, Daniel Cowie, and John Taylor. The incident, captured on CCTV on September 21, 2024, showed a series of events where Parry’s actions led to injuries to the victims.
Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel detailed how Michael Rodgers attempted to intervene by trying to remove Parry from the vehicle and prevent him from driving off. However, Parry drove away, causing Rodgers to fall, and then circled back narrowly missing him. Parry then drove towards Michael Rodgers and the others on the pavement, hitting Ashley Rodgers, Daniel Cowie, and causing John Taylor to fall as well. Parry exited the car park and fled the scene.
Parry, from Cornhill, Aberdeenshire, pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, including assaulting Michael Rodgers by driving the car forward while he was trying to stop him and recklessly driving under the influence, resulting in injuries to the victims. He also admitted exceeding the legal alcohol limit for driving in Scotland.
In sentencing Parry, Lady Drummond emphasized the seriousness of the offenses and the impact on the victims. She highlighted the physical and psychological effects suffered by Michael Rodgers, including financial instability, health issues, fear, and depression. Lady Drummond deemed a custodial sentence as the appropriate consequence given the severity of the crimes committed.