A policeman who had ended his relationship with his girlfriend has been handed 11 years in jail after pleading guilty to attempting to murder the woman and her mother at a Scottish Borders funeral home.
William McBurnie drove his car at speed through the front window of Zoe Turnbull’s office in Jedburgh several months after she had ended their relationship.
The 57-year-old ex-detective appeared at the High Court in Livingston for sentencing.
Judge Lord Mulholland told Mc Burnie that he had used his car as a “lethal weapon” and that his conduct was “cowardly and reckless.”.
He was quoted as saying: “You are lucky you are not being charged with murder.”
McBurnie was a freelance press photographer in Jedburgh, having moved from his native Northern Ireland, where he used to be a police officer in Belfast.
He had been in a relationship with Ms Turnbull, but she had ended it with him during the summer of last year.
The 46-year-old businesswoman said, having just received the verdict: “Well finally, after two years of physical, emotional and practical chaos, we have justice.
McBurnie was the Jekyll and Hyde of Jedburgh – charming in public but dangerous behind the scenes.
I feel the attempt on my life happened because he knew he was losing his grip on me and this extreme act was some warped and cowardly attempt to control things.”
A forceful monster – that is how she described him. She said she and her mother are looking forward to putting the painful chapter behind them.”.
Says Ms Turnbull: “I do hope that no one has to go through this ever again in my lifetime, and I encourage anyone else who is in a similar situation to speak out and seek help.
McBurnie had been drinking on the morning of 7 December 2022, and was nearly three times over the alcohol limit when he drove at speed through the window of the town centre funeral home.
The vehicle narrowly missed Ms Turnbull and her 71-year-old mother, Beverley, but it left both with life-changing conditions.
Ms Turnbull suffered hearing loss and damage to her back and legs, while her mother survived two cardiac arrests in the hours that elapsed immediately after the crash.
She still lives with atrial fibrillation, shortness of breath and tiredness.
CCTV from inside the funeral directors was played out at the High Court in Livingston after McBurnie pleaded guilty.
It captured his car driving at speed past a give-way sign, mounting the pavement, crashing through two flower planters and then smashing through the large office window.
The footage also caught Ms Turnbull and her mother pressing themselves against side walls to avoid the impact.
The court was told that McBurnie was finding it difficult to come to terms with the breakup and had claimed he had been drinking very heavily for four months.
Gareth Jones said his client had shown “genuine remorse” at what he had done and remembered little of what had actually happened.
Moira Orr, who has responsibility for homicide and major crime at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “This was an extremely reckless act which could have had devastating consequences had it not been for the swift actions of William McBurnie’s former partner.
“Our thoughts and best wishes remain with both women as they continue to deal with the lasting trauma caused by this individual.”
She said it re-affirmed its commitment to prosecuting such crimes.
Lord Mulholland put McBurnie on an extended sentence of a total of 13 years, including two years of supervision on his release from prison.
He was also banned from driving for 16-and-a-half years and given indefinite non-harassment orders about both women.
He also displayed shame and guilt but appreciated that his present position was entirely of his own making.
Sentence was adjourned to 10 October for Background reports.