| Ashley Smith had met pals in Dundee to drown her sorrows after being diagnosed with hepatitis C, and then decided to drive home.
The following day, while on the A926 at Maryton, Kirriemuir, her car struck 40-year-old Colin McGregor, who was out walking his dog. Mother-of-one Smith was found to have alcohol, ecstasy and cannabis in her system.
The court had heard that Mr McGregor, a dad of two, was thrown into the air by Smith’s Vauxhall Astra and died instantly. The dog was run over and also died. The accused’s car then hit a lamppost.
Sentencing today Lord Woolman told Smith the sentence was not intended to measure the value of Mr McGregor’s life, or to place a figure on the extent of his family’s grief. Such matters are beyond calculation.
He added, “This is not a case of momentary inadventure. The accident was a readily foreseeable consequence of you being on the road in the condition you were in. You showed a disregard for the great danger you presented to others.”
Lord Woolman said he took into account that Smith was not travelling at an excessive speed, her blood alcohol level was below the prescribed limit and that she was clearly remorseful.
Timber sales assistant Mr McGregor lived with his wife Lynn and daughters Rachel (5) and Jessica (7).
He had gone out for a walk with the family Labrador on June 24 last year, and was just yards from his house when the accident occurred.
Smith had admitted causing death by danger driving and being in possession of cannabis worth approximately Ł10.
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