Ex-Scottish footballer Ally McCoist’s son in hit-and-run in Bishopton

Ex-Scottish footballer Ally McCoist’s son, 20, left a pedestrian with fractured skull and bleed on the brain after mowing him down in high-speed hit-and-run crash but is spared prison

• Argyll McCoist left a pedestrian with a fractured skull and bleed on the brain
• He mowed down Stephen Murdoch, 20, in his £20,000 Audi car in December
• Sheriff today branded him ‘reckless’ and ‘immature’ for the hit and run collision
• He was spared jail, but given community order, told to wear a tag, and banned from driving for 42 months  

Former Rangers and Scotland footballer Ally McCoist’s son left a pedestrian with a fractured skull and bleed on the brain after mowing him down in a high speed hit and run.

Argyll, 20, was uninsured when he ran a red light and hit 21-year-old Stephen Murdoch in his £20,000 Audi 1 S Line TDI before driving off.

He was today branded ‘reckless’ and ‘immature’ by a judge for the collision in the village of Bishopton, Renfrewshire when Mr Murdoch was using a pedestrian crossing showing a green man.

He was warned he faced jail last month when he admitted driving without insurance and causing serious injury by driving dangerously.

Argyll McCoist, left, leaves court today with his father, Rangers and Scotland footballer Ally McCoist, right

But today Sheriff Colin Pettigrew was prevented from jailing him because of legal precedent in Scotland regarding under-21s.

They can only be sent to prison if there is no other alternative available.

Instead he was placed on a Community Payback Order, telling him to do unpaid work in the community, and was told he must now wear a tag.

He was also banned from driving for 42 months, and he has lost a visa to take up a scholarship in the US because of the court proceedings. 

Mr Murdoch, pictured recovering in his hospital, was struck by McCoist on December 3 2016

Paisley Sheriff Court heard Murdoch was rushed to hospital after being struck by McCoist on December 3, 2016.

Mr Murdoch spent a week in hospital, spent six months on crutches, had to quit his job as he could not stand for long periods and still feels pain in his leg to this day – some 21 months later.

He now also has memory and eyesight problems and also bears the emotional scars of the incident, now rarely leaving the house and panicking when crossing the road.

McCoist sobbed in the dock as Procurator Fiscal Depute Pamela Brady said Mr Murdoch was struck at around 9.30pm as he crossed at a pedestrian crossing in Bishopton’s Greenock Road, near it’s junction with Kingston Road.

Ally McCoist, left, was in court to support his son today. Mr Murdoch, right, spent a week in hospital and six months on crutches after the incident

The prosecutor added: ‘He [Mr Murdoch] advises he does not go out as much as he used to.

‘He becomes particularly anxious when he has to cross a road. 

‘He has also developed problems with sleep and becomes sick an nauseous when he lies down – this results in him becoming agitated. ‘He has had to attend his GP regarding issues with sleep, anxiety, depression and pain.’

The court also heard that despite his injuries and continuing difficulties, Mr Murdoch had recently completed a 10k race, to prove to himself he could do it, but that he had to walk most of the way.

Defence QC John Scullion said McCoist was remorseful over his actions, was willing to carry out unpaid work in the community as an alternative to prison, could pay compensation to Mr Murdoch at the rate of £100-per-month and was from ‘a supportive family.’

Ally McCoist pictured in 2014 during his time as manager of Rangers

Sheriff Pettigrew then said: ‘You failed to maintain proper observations and failed to comply with a red traffic signal.

‘You struck Mr Murdoch – a pedestrian – as he was crossing the road in compliance with the pedestrian traffic light system showing green in his favour.

‘As a consequence of being struck Mr Murdoch sustained severe injuries. 

‘You drove at excessive speed, above the speed limit, failed to obey a red traffic signal, and failed to have proper regard to a pedestrian. 

‘You accept full responsibility for your actions. 

‘I am satisfied you are genuinely remorseful, bitterly regretting the manner of your driving which, while neither planned nor premeditated, was undoubtedly reckless and immature. 

‘Your application for a visa to take up a scholarship at college in the USA has been refused on account of these proceedings still pending. 

‘Parliament has provided that in cases of this type the court may impose a custodial sentence but that, for those under 21 years of age, a court shall not impose detention unless it is of the opinion that no other method of dealing with the offender is appropriate. 

‘I cannot say that a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal. ‘That being so, the law is clear – a custodial sentence should not be imposed. ‘I consider there is another method of dealing with you that is appropriate which meets the requirements of retribution, deterrence, protection of the public and rehabilitation.’

He then placed McCoist on a Community Payback Order, telling him to do 280 hours’ unpaid work in the community within the next 10 months.

He also placed him on a Restriction of Liberty Order, which willsee him electronically tagged and effectively under house arrest from 8pm to 5.30am every day for the next six months.

He also banned McCoist from driving for 42 months, reduced from 48 months as he admitted his guilt, and warned him he could still be jailed if he breaches the Orders.

Sheriff Pettigrew added: ‘The hours of unpaid work will afford you an opportunity of making recompense for your behaviour and of contributing to society as part of the penalty for your offending.’

McCoist’s father – dubbed ‘Super Ally’ by Rangers fans during a 15-year spell where he became the club’s record goalscorer and won nine successive league championships between 1988 and 1997 – was in court to support his son.

The former Scotland striker – who was the first player to be Europe’s top goalscorer twice in a row, in 1992 and 1993, and was crowned Scotland’s Player of the Year in 1992 – also accompanied him to court last year when he was again up on a charge of driving without insurance.

Mr Murdoch, who was at the sentencing hearing with his parents, declined to comment as he left court.  

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