See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JOE ROSSITER, REPORTER Published: 14:42 BST, 21 August 2026 | Updated: 15:21 BST, 21 August 2026
A disqualified driver who stole a Maserati from a showroom then killed a great-grandfather as he sped away from the scene has been jailed for more than 13 years. Fraser Garden, 55, caused John Bell, 74, 'non-survivable injuries' when he pinned him against the wall of a house in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, with the stolen car on April 13.Garden admitted causing Mr Bell's death by dangerous driving at Edinburgh's High Court last month and was jailed for 13 years and six months on Friday.He had stolen the Maserati from the forecourt of a car showroom in Broughty Ferry on the day he hit Mr Bell and drove at more than 80mph through residential areas with 30mph limits.Garden, who had 90 previous convictions including 'numerous' motoring offences, jumped a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road and overtook cars despite oncoming traffic.He lost control of the stolen car at a bend less than 750m from the showroom and clipped a kerb, hitting a traffic island and ploughing through a hedge into a garden where Mr Bell was doing some work for a neighbour.The front of the car hit the former taxi driver before pinning him against the wall of the house.Graeme Jessop KC, prosecuting, previously told the court Garden had been driving at 85mph just 3.3 seconds before the crash. John Bell was killed by after he was hit by a Maserati being driven at speeds of 85mph by Fraser Garden Garden was under three separate driving disqualifications on the day he crashed the stolen car The crumpled Maserati after Garden crashed it through a hedge and into the wall of a house where Mr Bell was doing work in the garden for a neighbourHe was still travelling at 34mph when he hit the house during what a judge described as an 'appalling episode of driving'.Mr Jessop told the court that when police arrested Garden on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, he said: 'Sorry.'Garden also admitted theft of a motor vehicle, driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and failing to provide a blood sample for drug testing.He had been under three separate driving disqualifications on the day of the crash, Mr Jessop told the court.Mr Bell had three children, ten adult grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.On the day of the crash, Mr Jessop said Garden had been wandering around the forecourt and showroom area of the West End Garage when he saw the unlocked Maserati, which belonged to a director.The barrister said the 523-brake horsepower car could accelerate from zero to 60mph in 4.6 seconds and had a top speed of 193mph.Bought by the director five years earlier for £70,000, it was estimated to be worth £40,000 on the day of the crash.It was 'irreparably damaged' by the crash and its front crumpled beyond recognition.
