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CRAZED CAR DRAMA
Maniac ex-cop who ploughed car into funeral home as he tried to murder ex-partner & mum jailed for 11 years
The former copper's car mounted the pavement, smashed through two large flower planters
A SPURNED ex-cop who drunkenly drove his car at high speed into his former partner's office in a bid to murder her has been jailed for 11 years.
William McBurnie will remain on licence and subject to supervision for a further two years following his release from prison.
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He was also made subject to a non-harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting his ex-girlfriend Zoe Turnbull and her mother Beverly for the rest of his life.
The 57-year-old former advanced driving instructor smashed his silver Suzuki through the window of Zoe’s funeral director business in December 2022 after she ended their two year relationship.
The 46-year-old undertaker was with her elderly mother when his car ploughed into the front of the office in Jedburgh’s Main Street.
Livingston High Court heard McBurnie had refused to believe the relationship was over and had bombarded Ms Turnbull with unwanted texts, emails and messages in the months leading up to the dramatic incident.
He had been drinking whisky for six hours before the dramatic lunchtime smash and was nearly three times the drink drive limit when he deliberately accelerated and drove “at speed” towards the shop in Market Street.
His car mounted the pavement, smashed through two large flower planters and demolished the plate glass window, sending glass flying everywhere.
CCTV footage of the shocking incident shows how close McBurnie came to killing both women as they desperately pressed themselves against the side walls of the office.
By pure chance Zoe miraculously escaped serious injury. Moments before the impact she moved out from behind her desk, which was impaled in the back wall by the car.
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She suffered a bruised leg and has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, tinnitus, deafness in her right ear and a low tolerance of noise.
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She has also experienced two episodes of cardiac arrest from “broken heart syndrome”, caused by extreme stress.
Beverly Turnbull, 71, had injuries to her back and legs after being hit by flying debris and has suffered atrial fibrillation and hearing loss as a result of the horrific crash.
When he got out of his wrecked car McBurnie, who served with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Fermanagh before becoming a local newspaper photographer, immediately said: “Sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Gareth Jones, defending, said a psychiatric report from February last year revealed the accused had expressed self-pity but also genuine remorse for his actions and great concern for those he had harmed.
He also expressed shame and guilt but appreciated that his present position was entirely of his own doing.
He said the father-of-three had failed to come to terms with the end of the relationship and had drunk alcohol to excess as a coping mechanism.
Passing sentence, judge Lord Mulholland told McBurnie: “Your conduct was so cowardly, selfish and reckless that it could easily have killed her and her mother who was also present.
“You are fortunate that you are not in the dock facing a charge of murder.”
He went on: “Being heavily under the influence of alcohol is no excuse, it is an aggravation, as is the background of you not accepting that your relationship with the victim Zoe Turnbull was over and pestering her with unwanted messages.
“You also parked across from her place of work to frighten and intimidate her.”
The judge said he took into account the financial damage McBurnie had caused Zoe in the running of her business and the health problems his criminal conduct had caused to her mother Beverley.
He said: “She was a fit and healthy woman until this incident. Your criminal conduct has caused her health to deteriorate significantly.
“Your criminal conduct has had a significant and detrimental effect on both women and you should be ashamed for what you did.
“You were a former police officer and you have a criminal conviction for driving whilst intoxicated. You would have been aware therefore that you should not be driving intoxicated.
“You turned a mode of transport, your vehicle, into a lethal weapon and used it with devastating effect.”
Zoe welcomed the jailing of McBurnie and in a statement via law firm Digby Brown she said: "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 believe 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.
“He was just a forceful monster who encroached on our lives and used violence to get his own way.
"That man has shamed himself, the police service and his family - objectively, after what he did, jail really is the only place for him.
"I am grateful to everyone who supported us from the community to the NHS to the police and prosecutors who put him behind bars.
"My mother and I now hope to put this painful chapter behind us so we request our privacy is respected as we move forwards.
"But as a final note I'd just like to say to anyone suffering from domestic abuse - whether man or woman - please do not feel like you are alone, or trapped or have no options and please don't wait for the worst to happen before acting.
"You have a voice and there are so many people around you ready to listen - and act – so you can get the help you need."
Detective Inspector Debbie Duncan said: “William McBurnie put the lives of others in danger with his reckless actions and he is now facing the consequences.
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“His victims played a vital role in achieving this outcome and I would like to thank them for their support and hope that they can now begin to move on from this experience.
“Violence and endangering the lives of others will not be tolerated and we will rigorously pursue those responsible of such crimes and ensure they are brought to justice.”
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