Former Celtic player killed teen in drunken hit and run in Glasgow

Ciaran Dickson, 22, struck Aidan Pilkington, 18, in Glasgow's Anniesland on September 11, 2021.

Ciaran Dickson (Image: Spindrift)Dickson got behind the wheel after consuming a number beers and cocktails with a friend.

The midfielder later raced down a road where Mr Pilkington was crossing and dragged him along the ground.

The ex-Rangers youth then fled the scene and abandoned his rented Mercedes car close to his home.

Mr Pilkington meantime suffered significant head injuries which he succumbed to later in hospital.

Dickson pleaded guilty today at the High Court in Glasgow to causing death by dangerous driving.

The court heard that Dickson, now of Erskine, was employed by Celtic's B team at the time of the offence.

He went to the restaurant Duck Bay Marina in Loch Lomond with a friend in the early evening.

Dickson drank a pint of lager and a bottle of Corona before he drove to a pool club in Glasgow city centre.

CCTV confirmed that Dickson drank a further two pints of lager before he drove to The Black Horse bar.

Dickson consumed three pints of the strong cocktail venom which was also topped up with an extra measure of vodka.

Mr Pilkington - who was to embark on his first year as a university student - was out with school friends that night drinking alcohol and left the pub around 11.30pm.

Tributes left for Aidan (Image: Newsquest)Tributes left for Aidan (Image: Newsquest)He was en route to a friend's house when the collision occurred on Crow Road around midnight.

Mr Pilkington's friend Ben Smith recalled seeing a vehicle a "distance away" and believed there was enough time to cross the road. Mr Pilkington followed behind him.

Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: "Mr Smith was walking within the two lanes when he realised the car was getting closer, faster than he expected.

"He could not estimate the speed of the vehicle, but it caused him to 'quicken up'.

"He was halfway into the lane when he turned around to see if Aidan was following.

"He observed that Aidan was halfway into the nearside lane of the road."

Mr Smith stated that a white car struck Mr Pilkington when he was positioned between the two lanes.

He added that he did not remember Mr Pilkington being run over by the car but to "have travelled for around 10 to 15 metres with the car."

Other witnesses described hearing a loud bang and a thud as well as seeing Mr Pilkington on the ground.

He was noted to be unconscious with blood coming from his mouth and ears.

Mr Pilkington was also found to have an exposed fractured skull, very shallow breathing and CPR was carried out at the scene by medics.

Mr Pilkington was taken to hospital where he remained unresponsive and life was pronounced extinct at 1.55am.

Meantime, Dickson drove off at speed which witnesses believed was around 50 to 70 miles per hour.

He abandoned his vehicle and was later found to have run 178 metres back to his home which was discovered after his fitness watch was seized by police.

Damage was noted to the vehicle which also included a missing Mercedes Benz badge.

Dickson handed himself into police the next day and he was released pending an investigation.

He gave a no comment interview to officers in February 2022 and in June he was finally arrested.

A post-mortem examination was carried out which revealed major external injuries to Mr Pilkington's head and trunk.

Mr Pilkington suffered bruising and wounds to his forehead, scalp, eye and cheek.

There was also a full-thickness wound to the back of his head surrounded by bruising.

Mr Keenan added: "Pathologists considered that the injuries to the front and back of the head were consistent with a run over or dragging type scenario."

Further injuries included to the abdomen and pelvis as well as a number of rib fractures.

An internal examination revealed a large skull fracture which was associated with a small amount of bleeding on the surface of the brain.

Pathologists considered that a brain injury might be responsible for the "very rapid death".

Mr Keenan said: "The major cause of death is considered to be severe head injury which is consistent with being sustained as a result of road traffic collision."

It was also suggested that Mr Pilkington was not standing at the time of the collision. It is not known if he slipped or fell.

Collision investigators believed Dickson was travelling between 64 and 71 miles per hour at the time.

Forensic scientists calculated that Dickson was approximately more than three times over the drink drive limit.

Thomas Ross KC, defending, said: "Nothing said by Ciaran Dickson can offer comfort to Aidan's family and friends.

"He recognises that he is fully deserving of a sentence of imprisonment."

Dickson's previous convictions include careless driving from December 2020 when he was hit with three penalty points.

He was also convicted of a domestic offence in April 2023 when he was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid work.

Dickson - who was tipped for first-team football - was released by Celtic having scored two goals in his first two appearances for the B team.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lord Colbeck who remanded Dickson in custody meantime.