Driver jailed for nearly five years for Fife hit-and-run

Stephen Davis never recovered from his injuries

A driver who killed a man in a hit-and-run in Fife has been jailed for almost five years.

Darren McPhee, 32, was behind the wheel of a stolen Audi SQ5 with a fake registration plate when he hit Stephen Davis as he crossed the road.

Mr Davis, 46, never recovered after the incident on the A909 in his home town of Cowdenbeath, Fife on 14 September last year.

McPhee failed to stop and sped away on the wrong side of the road, but was traced two days later in Moray.

The Audi was discovered "fully dismantled" at a recycling centre in Fife leaving crash investigators unable to carry out a full examination.

McPhee - who already had a conviction for a road traffic offence - was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow to four years and eight months.

He had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Lord Scott said Mr Davis's father and brother had penned moving impact statements describing the "emotional and psychological impact" of their loss.

The judge remarked that Mr Davis had lost his partner to cancer just months before he was killed.

Lord Scott said that "excessive speed was the key ingredient to what happened."

McPhee would have been jailed for seven years, but for the guilty plea.

He was also banned from the road for eight years and four months after his release.

'Excessive speed'

The collision was captured on CCTV with the footage played at the hearing.

Prosecutor Gavin Anderson KC said: "As Mr Davis crossed the road, he initially walked and then began to run. This was apparently in response to seeing the approaching Audi.

"As he did so, he was struck by the vehicle. He was thrown into the air before coming to rest on the pavement."

Witnesses dialled 999 for help, but Mr Davis - who worked in the grocery trade - died having suffered a number of injuries including to his brain and skull.

McPhee was found to have been driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Mr Davis.

Officers believed he was travelling at up to 66mph moments before the collision.

The court was told McPhee was in a hurry that evening as he had got news a relative was sick.

John Scullion KC, defending, said McPhee stated he "lies awake at night replaying events" of what happened.