Scottish farmer jailed for causing serious road incident

A Scottish farmer has been jailed after his failure to maintain his tractor and trailer brakes caused a major road incident, killing one motorist and seriously injuring two others.

Andrew Grant, 36, will serve one year in jail after being found guilty of breaking health-and-safety laws, following a trial at the High Court in Livingston and a sentencing from the High Court in Inverness.

The incident took place just outside Glasgow in 2016, killing 60-year-old motorist Francis Mooney.  

See also: Farmer killed and son seriously injured in accident

The tractor and trailer, which was hauling a 13t digger, was driven by Mr Grant’s employee, Christopher Nimmo, who also received serious injuries from the collision.

According to a BBC report, Mr Nimmo told the court that the brake pedal had gone straight to the floor, leaving him free-wheeling into a catastrophe.

He had reportedly tried to alert other drivers by flashing the tractor’s lights and waving his hands.

It was found that Mr Grant did not have the necessary HGV licensing in place, which requires strict weekly checking of vehicles and their brakes.

The court also heard that the brake fluid on Mr Grant’s tractor, which should have been replaced every two years, had not been changed for six years.

At the trial, Mr Grant told the jury he had since obtained a HGV operator’s licence and employed a transport manager to ensure maintenance is carried out routinely.