A drunk Scots junior footballer who killed a Rangers supporting dad in a horror crash has been jailed for four years. Craig Forbes, 23, struck David Horn's vehicle on the A78 in Inverclyde on October 15, 2022.
Largs Thistle player Forbes - who had earlier attended a wedding - was over twice the limit when he overtook another vehicle when it was unsafe moments before the collision. Both Forbes and Mr Horn's vehicles rotated after the point of impact with the 59-year-old victim becoming trapped inside.
Tragically Mr Horn died from his serious injuries in hospital. Tributes were paid to him at his beloved Ibrox Stadium as fans held an applause in the 59th minute at a Rangers and Livingston match.
Mr Horn, a season ticket holder from Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, travelled to matches on the local supporters bus. He was described as "loving, caring and compassionate husband and father, and a ready, willing and true friend to many.”
The retired procurement manager for Hewlett Packard is survived by his wife and two children. First offender Forbes pled guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to causing Mr Horn's death by dangerous driving.
Judge Douglas Brown stated that he had regard to the injuries Forbes himself suffered, his early guilty plea and the young person's sentencing guidelines for offenders under 25. The judge said: "The effect of his death has been devastating. I have read the victim impact statements from Mr Horn's wife of 24 years Jacqueline and his two children.
"These statements in eloquent moving terms describe the impact his death had upon them. It is clear from what they say that he was a loving and hugely supportive husband and father. This has changed their lives forever and they have difficulty contemplating a future without him.
"Nothing the court can impose can realistically bring any significant comfort to them." Forbes was also disqualified from driving for seven years and he must sit the extended test at the end of the ban.
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In a statement after the sentencing, Mr Horn's wife Jacqueline said that their lives had "changed forever." She said: "This is due to a selfish decision made by Craig Forbes.
"This choice resulted in not only the death of my husband, but a father, son and friend of many. Now we have to live the rest of our lives without David and Craig Forbes will now be known as a killer.
"Although he has been sentenced today, we have been given a life sentence because of his actions that night of which we will never forgive him."
The court heard that Mr Horn was driving home having dropped off his daughter in Greenock in his Toyota Yaris at 11.20pm. Forbes meanwhile had attended a wedding and was returning to Greenock in his Volkswagen Golf.
Shortly before the collision, Forbes overtook a car when it was unsafe to do so. The driver of the car which had been overtaken described Forbes as driving "quite fast."
Prosecutor Alex Sutherland said: "Subsequently, Forbes lost directional control of the car and entered the southbound lane colliding head on with Mr Horn's car. After the collision, Forbes' car continued to travel north-east and it struck a verge causing it to rotate 90 degrees.
"It rolled on its nearside in the southbound lane. Its final position was resting on its nearside and it was subsequently rolled onto its wheels for Forbes to be freed."
Mr Horn's car meanwhile rotated 180 degrees anticlockwise on the southbound lane. Both cars sustained extensive front damage which was shown to the court on screens.
Mr Horn was initially found trapped in his car by medics before he was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The victim went into full cardiac arrest during the journey and CPR was carried out.
Mr Horn's condition unfortunately did not improve at hospital and he was pronounced dead at 1.26am. A post-mortem carried out recorded the cause of death as "chest injuries due to road traffic collision."
Mr Sutherland stated that Mr Horn sustained fractures to his forearm, both thigh bones as well as internal injuries including to his spine and ribs. Forbes was also treated at hospital for injuries to his leg, pelvis and bruised lungs.
He was unable to give a blood sample until three hours after the incident which confirmed a blood alcohol level. The sentencing was told that calculations put his alcohol level at between 120 to 130 milligrams within 100 millilitres when the limit is 50 milligrams.
It was stated that his levels would have been higher than 78 milligrams and a more accurate calculation will be given at the sentencing later this month. A collision investigation determined that "it occurred as a result of Forbes, while impaired by alcohol, losing directional control of his car for an unknown reason.
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"This caused the car to enter the southbound lane and strike the front of Mr Horn's car. Mr Horn had insufficient time to take evasive action. Forbes was solely to blame for the collision which caused Mr Horn's death."
Forbes' football team Largs Thistle backed their player after the guilty plea. Thistle said they “believe in positive rehabilitation” and “support Craig in his ongoing progress as he learns to deal with the devastation he has caused”.
Simon Gilbride, defending, told the sentencing that his client had purchased an airbnb room near to the wedding venue. He said: "The consequences of his actions are incredibly tragic.
"One can imagine what his family have experienced and the loss that they must feel. At the wedding when drinking there was no intention at that point to go outside and drive that night.
"There was no consideration as to how much he was drinking at that point. Impulsively, he left the wedding and that was a colossal error on his part and will regret that for the rest of his life.
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