Drunk driver ran over girlfriend as she slept during camping trip

A drunk man who took his girlfriend's car then ran her over as she slept in a tent during a camping trip was ordered to carry out community service.

David Owen left Louise Graham with burns to her arm, hand and stomach that needed skin grafts and months of treatment leaving her permanently scarred in St Andrews, Fife.

After he ran her over, Owen demanded that none of the group on the beach camping trip phone an ambulance because he was scared police might get involved.

Sheriff Charlie Macnair QC opted not to jail Owen, who has previous convictions for housebreaking, assault, breach of the peace and theft.

On Thursday the 21-year-old, who was released from a four-month jail term for stealing a case of beer from a Co-op store in Cupar last week, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to do 250 hours community service.

An earlier trial at Cupar Sheriff Court heard Ms Graham was forced to drive back to Owen's home in Dairsie, near Cupar, Fife, where an ambulance was eventually called to rush her to hospital.

A jury heard how Ms Graham had driven Owen, his sister Emma and his friend Andrew McKenna to West Sands, which sits adjacent to the world famous Old Course.

She told how she fell asleep while Owen and the rest of the group sat drinking cider outside. She said she then woke up to find the car on top of her.

Ms Graham described how she woke up feeling like she was “suffocating and burning" as the car was on top of her.

Owen, of Station Road, Dairsie, Fife, denied that on October 8 or 9, 2008 he took Ms Graham's car without permission. He further denied culpably and recklessly driving it over her while under the influence of alcohol to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

But the jury of nine men and six women took 40 minutes to find him guilty of both charges.

Owen's lawyer told the court that Owen wanted to put his life of crime behind him - and settle down with new girlfriend Gemma McHugh after becoming step-father to her four-year-old son.

Paddy O'Dea, defending, added: "He was released from his previous sentence on June 11. He is now in part-time employment in the construction industry and is living with his partner."

Sheriff Charlie Macnair told Owen: "The jury found you guilty of two charges of taking a vehicle without consent and of culpable and reckless conduct that resulted in serious injury and permanent disfigurement to your then girlfriend.

"Had you deliberately ran her over then I would have been sentencing you to a very lengthy period in prison.

"But this is not the case - and having regard to the nature of the conduct I consider that I'm just able to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence."

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