Drunk Mercedes driver admits killing man he hit at 91mph

Jim Paterson had been for a night out when he was hit by Fox's car as he crossed a road

A drunk driver who hit a pedestrian while travelling at 91mph in a 30mph zone has admitted causing his death by dangerous driving.

Callum Fox, 29, struck Jim Paterson, 63, in Bredilands Road, Paisley, at about 02:00 on 27 November 2022.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Fox - who was described by a friend as being "really drunk" - had earlier been at a cocktail bar with friends and ignored a plea for him not to drive.

He started driving to a house party while he was two-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit and hit Mr Paterson as he crossed the road. The father-of-three and grandfather died at the scene.

Judge Lord Cubie told Fox that when he returned to court for sentencing he would be given a substantial prison sentence.

He said: "The offence arose as a consequence of your alcohol intake - you were two-and-a-half times over the limit. This was your own selfish disregard for the road for your own convenience and against advice given to you.

"The speed reached is a material impact - it was grossly excessive doing 90 miles per hour in a 30 while accelerating. It gave Mr Paterson no chance of survival."

The court heard how Fox had been with two friends and drank six or seven drinks at Lumins Cocktail and Sports Bar in Paisley.

He then got behind the wheel of his Mercedes AMG A45 to drive them to a house party in the Foxbar area.

A friend recalled saying to him that he should not drive but could not remember the reply.

Witnesses reported Fox as "overtaking at speed", "driving really fast" and "swerving all over the road."

Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC said Mr Paterson started to cross the road and was struck by Fox's car at about 00:25.

Airbag analysis found that Fox had driven from 66mph five seconds before the crash up to 91mph at the time he hit Mr Paterson.

The speed limit for the road was 30mph.

The court heard that Fox and his friends remained at the scene after the crash while paramedics arrived.

Mr Paterson, a plater and shipyard worker who was walking home after a curry night with his friend and cousin, suffered "significant external and internal" injuries.

Fox told police officers: "It was me, I was driving when I hit the guy."

A blood test found that he had 113mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - the legal limit is 50mg.

John Scullion KC, defending, told the court: "My client is under no illusion that he will receive nothing other than custody."

Lord Cubie told Fox, a self-employed timeshare salesman, that a "substantial prison sentence" would follow.

Sentence was deferred until January at the High Court in Kilmarnock, pending a background report.