Man jailed over A710 crash which killed Kilmarnock woman

A drink driver who killed a pensioner on holiday just months after getting his licence back has been jailed for almost 11 years.

Martin Jolly, 27, of Newton Stewart, admitted causing the death of Helen McCallum, 82, from Kilmarnock, on the A710 near Barnbarroch in 2019.

He got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Astra despite having drunk beer during a trip to the beach with a friend.

He was jailed for 10 years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow.

The court heard how he went too fast and lost control of his car while going round a bend on the road in Dumfries and Galloway.

The vehicle went "like an arrow" into another Astra being driven by Ramsay McCallum, 83, in which his wife, Helen, was a passenger.

Mrs McCallum did not survive the crash on 23 May 2019 and her husband was left injured.

Jolly already had four previous convictions for careless driving.

He had just served a 14-month ban from the road which expired on 11 February 2019 - three months before the fatal crash.

He pleaded guilty in August to a charge of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Lord Clark told Jolly: "The information before me includes victim impact statements from Mr McCallum and other family members.

"What they have said in their dignified and harrowing personal accounts explains the acutely distressing effect on the family.

"Helen McCallum was described as the lynchpin of a large and loving family.

"Her death from your totally unacceptable behaviour has caused irreparable damage and has had a devastating effect."

On the day of the crime, Jolly had picked up a friend, stopped off to buy a 12-pack of Corona beer before heading to Sandyhills beach.

The court heard they spent 90 minutes drinking before the accident happened.

The McCallums had been driving to their daughter's home in the village of Kippford where they were on holiday.

Jolly hit a verge before losing control of his car and colliding with the couple's vehicle.

Tests revealed he had not less then 68mg per 100ml of alcohol in his blood - the legal limit is 50mg. He also had traces of the drug diazepam in his system.

In addition to his jail term, he was also banned from driving for 14 years and six months.