A regimental sergeant major suffered severe injuries and needed multiple operations after a horror smash on the A9 in Highland Perthshire.
Sgt Major Ian Carlisle was badly injured when he was unable to veer out of the way of Marvin Aryeetey's oncoming van near the turn off to Dunkeld.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Aryeetey had inexplicably pulled out to overtake a line of traffic and had crashed head-on into the officer's vehicle.
On Wednesday Aryeetey was banned from driving for two years and ordered to re-sit the extended driving test. He was placed on a curfew from 7pm to 7am for six months.
Unemployed Aryeetey, 47, Broomhouse Row, Edinburgh, admitted causing Mr Carlisle serious injuries by driving dangerously on the A9 on 24 October 2019. The charge originally alleged he had taken methadone and diazepam which caused drowsiness but that was dropped by the Crown.
The smash happened on a single carriageway section of the A9, about 500 metres north of the Dunkeld junction.
Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said that Aryeetey was driving south from Aviemore at the time of the smash.
"It was dark that evening, the weather was damp and traffic flow was light," he said.
"At about 9pm, Mr Carlisle was travelling north in his works’ motor car, a black Ford Ranger, with the intention of heading into Inverness.
"An off-duty police constable was travelling south, and his car was in front of the accused's van.
"Mr Carlisle observed three vehicles travelling south. Suddenly, he saw the accused's van move fully into his lane, as if he was trying to overtake.
"The van was only about 20 metres from his vehicle. There was not enough time or distance for the accused to overtake."
Mr Sweeney told the court: "Mr Carlisle immediately took evasive action and steered into the nearside verge in an attempt to avoid a collision.
"However, both vehicles collided within the northbound lane, driver's side to driver's side.
"Another motorist had to evasive action to avoid collided with the accused's van which had travelled backwards along the northbound lane.
"After the collision, Mr Carlisle’s car came to a rest on a nearside verge and it was heavily damaged.
"The accused's van came to a stop in the southbound lane, but it was now facing north. It was also heavily damaged to the driver's side.
"Witnesses immediately attended at both vehicles and saw that both accuser and complainer were trapped inside.
"Emergency services were called and both men were cut free from their vehicles by firefighters."
Mr Sweeney said: "Mr Carlisle was admitted to Ninewells Hospital where was diagnosed with a dislocated wrist and a fracture on his radius bone which required a metal plate and wires fitted.
"He also suffered a dislocated right elbow. The elbow was reset and another metal plate was fitted.
"Mr Carlisle was expected to get back to full health in about three to six months, depending on how well the physiotherapy went.
"He has had four operations and has been signed off from work as a regimental sergeant major until he gets back to full fitness."
Solicitor Nigel Bruce, defending, said: "It was a serious collision. The difficulty is he cannot remember it. He was in hospital for six weeks after it.
"It was an isolated dangerous misjudgment on his part. As a result of the accident he had a shattered pelvis and hip and still struggles with mobility issues.
"He realises the error of his ways. He is genuinely remorseful."
Sheriff Linda Smith initially told Aryeetey he would be placed on a curfew for 17 hours each day until the court clerk pointed out that was an incompetent sentence.
The part-time sheriff also had to be corrected when she told Aryeetey he would be banned from driving until he passed a test - but forgot to impose any time limit on his ban.
The court was told Ian Carlisle, who serves with the 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 Scots), was expected to make a full recovery in the long term.
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