A TikTok creator has been sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of a grandmother by dangerous driving in North Lanarkshire.
Fatal collision on the school run
Leigh Sutherland, 31, was driving a defective Ford Mondeo when he collided with Margaret Allan's Peugeot 108 on June 15, 2023. The crash occurred in Cumbernauld while the 77-year-old grandmother was driving her 10-year-old grandson home from school.
Sutherland had ignored warnings that his car's anti-lock braking system was faulty. He was also speeding and driving with an unsecured battery at the time of the impact.
Callous behaviour after the crash
Following the collision, Sutherland walked away from the scene. Police later caught up with him, and he proceeded to make derogatory comments about his victim.
While on remand awaiting trial, he posted videos on TikTok about the crash. In his online content, he had previously dressed as a police officer and falsely claimed to be a criminal defence solicitor with experience in road traffic law.
Margaret Allan succumbed to her injuries almost a month later, on July 6, 2023.
Trial and sentencing at the High Court
Sutherland was convicted in October following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. On Friday, January 9, 2026, Judge Thomas Hughes sentenced him to nine years imprisonment and banned him from driving for 13 years and six months.
The judge condemned Sutherland's "cock and bull story" to police, where he claimed a mystery Romanian man had been test-driving his car during the crash. He also criticised the defendant's "totally and utterly unacceptable" attitude and his failure to help those he had injured.
The court heard Sutherland was on bail at the time of the fatal incident and had to relocate from Cumbernauld due to online threats. It was also revealed he had received a six-month driving ban just one week before the crash.
Family's dignified response and police statement
In a statement, Ms Allan's family said the sentencing brought "a measure of justice" but acknowledged nothing could bring their mother back. They expressed deep appreciation for the witnesses who came forward.
Sergeant Andy Coutts of North Lanarkshire roads policing said Sutherland's actions showed "a blatant disregard for other road users and the law", and that he had shown no remorse. The police hope the court's decision brings some peace to the family.
