Bike racing champion escapes jail after third fatal smash

Alan Duffus handed 10-year driving ban and 240 hours community service at Edinburgh High court

A FORMER motorcycle racing champion has escaped jail following his THIRD involvement in a fatal road smash.

Earlier this month, Visordown brought you the news surrounding the case of Alan Duffus, 62, a former motorcycle racing champion, who was convicted of dangerous driving over his involvement in the death of 67-year-old grandma Senga Elder in Auchtermuchty, Fife, last year. Read the full story here.

Prosecutors claimed Duffus was racing his co-accused, Grant Whyte, 22, in BMW sportscar when Whyte mounted the pavement in his Vauxhall Corsa, colliding with the pensioner.

But at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this week, Duffus escaped jail, after judge Lady Dorrian gave him 240 hours community service and banned him from the roads for 10 years.

She told him: "While your driving was deficient, it did not cause the accident."

Whyte was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving. He was also banned for 10 years.

The furious sister of the victim of the first smash said last night: "He (Duffus) is like teflon. Nothing sticks to him.

"What have you got to do these days to get locked up?

"Duffus is very lucky I wasn't at court - the b*****d makes me so angry.

Scottish Police were also fuming at the verdict. Chief Inspector John Macdonald said: "This was not a road accident - it was a brutal criminal act.

"So dangerous was the driving of these individuals, it was a miracle that only Senga lost her life."