Ken BanksNorth east Scotland reporter, Aberdeen Sheriff Court
A drink-driver who caused a crash which resulted in a teenage footballer losing his legs has been detained for 32 months.
Goalkeeper Adam Golebiewski, 18, had been a passenger in Arran Paterson’s car which crashed into a wall in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, in September last year.
Paterson, 19, previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, being over the drink-drive limit, and driving without insurance.
Mr Golebiewski told Scotland News: “It’s a bit of relief, but still not enough for what damage he has caused – I lost my legs.”
Mr Golebiewski – who previously said he can never forgive Paterson – was able to walk into Aberdeen Sheriff Court unaided on his prosthetic legs, following intensive rehabilitation, for the case.
Sheriff Philip Mann told Paterson his driving, which was estimated at 90mph on 30mph road, had had “devastating” consequences.
Sheriff Mann said nothing he could do could turn the clock back and change the consequences of the crash for the passengers.
He said he had a public duty to send out a strong message to anyone tempted to drink and drive.
Paterson admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and at excessive speed, losing control and colliding with a wall.
Apprentice builder Mr Golebiewski, from Banff, was one of three passengers in the car that crashed in Macduff’s Union Road in the early hours of Sunday 8 September.
The two other teenagers were also badly hurt.
Mr Golebiewski’s legs had to be amputated below the knee.
The goalkeeper with junior side Deveronside faced three months of rehabilitation at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen, and celebrated his 18th birthday in hospital.
He was able to walk again on crutches, and was “thankful and grateful” to be home with his family for Christmas.
CCTV footage of the crash was shown to the court on Friday.
Mr Golebiewski told Scotland News the case was something to get off his shoulders and that “life is not over”.
He said: “I will never forgive that man for what he has done to me. I am still the same, I just don’t have legs any more.
“I want to try to enjoy life again and stay positive. I’m trying to forget about him, forget about what’s happened. It’s hard to forget about it.
“I just have anger towards him. He’s not just wrecked my life, but my family and friends as well.”
Mr Golebiewski praised his friends and family for helping him through the past year.
“Everyone has kept me positive to be honest, they have helped me through everything and they will continue to help me through everything, that’s just who they are and what they do,” he said.
