Man who killed girlfriend in crash claimed 'she grabbed the wheel'

Steven Allan will return to court to be sentenced next month

A man has been convicted of killing his girlfriend by driving dangerously after claiming that she caused the crash.

Steven Allan's car crashed into a tree as he travelled with Rebecca Sivyer on the A94 Perth to Forfar road in August 2021.

A jury heard how the 33-year-old used his mobile phone before he lost control of his car - Allan had claimed that Ms Sivyer, 23, had grabbed the steering wheel.

Allan, from Alyth, will be sentenced on 2 October.

Following the conviction, Ms Sivyer's mother Wendy Ghekis said her family were pleased that the jury "saw through" Allan's attempt to avoid being held accountable for his actions "which cost our beloved Becca her life."

She said in a statement: "We now hope the punishment reflects his lack of remorse for causing Becca's death and his lack of respect for her grieving family.

"With every day that goes by we are painfully reminded we won't get to share life's precious milestones with Becca."

She added that Ms Sivyer's young daughter had "lost sharing the future with her mum."

Judge Lady Carmichael continued Allan's bail and ordered a report to be prepared into his background.

The judge also imposed an interim driving ban.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that the couple had recently started dating.

In evidence, Allan told the court that Ms Sivyer was happy in the moments before the incident.

Allan claimed: "She grabbed the steering wheel. I have kept it to myself for four years."

He could not explain how this happened.

He was asked by his defence lawyer "was it in the middle of a row?" - to which Allan replied "no".

Prosecutor Tracey Brown told the jury in her closing speech that police had built a case which showed that Allan had been driving dangerously in the moments leading up to the collision.

She added: "I invite you to reject the explanation offered by the accused. It did not happen."