Stephen Davis was killed on Cowdenbeath High Street

Darren McPhee, 32, was speeding and driving dangerously when the Audi struck Stephen Davis on the High Street on September 14 last year.

Callously, he didn't stop and drove away.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how police investigators reckon the stolen car hit Mr Davis at 42mph.

The speed limit was 30mph and it's believed McPhee was travelling at up to 66mph in the moments before the collision.

Judge Lord Scott saw CCTV footage of Mr Davis - who had lost his partner to cancer in July 2023 - being propelled several feet into the air before landing on the pavement.

Pedestrian Stephen Davis was knocked down and killed by hit-and-run driver Darren McPhee on September 14 last year. (Image: David Wardle)

He died at the scene. However, McPhee failed to stop and sped away on the wrong side of the road.

Detectives arrested him in Aberlour, Moray two days later. 

On Thursday, prosecutor Gavin Anderson KC told the court that McPhee had previous convictions for similar offences. 

The car, a grey Audi SQ5, had been stolen in Edinburgh on July 31 last year and was fitted with false plates. 

On the day of the collision, at 8.35pm, Mr Davis started to cross High Street and then began to run, apparently in response to seeing the approaching car.  

He was struck and "thrown into the air" before coming to rest on the pavement.

Mr Anderson told the court: “Upon impact and as Mr Davis was projected upwards, the Audi veered into the southbound lane, initially straddling the centre dividing line of the road.

“The Audi continued travelling north in the southbound lane.”

McPhee, a prisoner of HMP Glenochil, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Davis’ death by driving dangerously and at “excessive speeds”.

He also admitted failing to stop at a red traffic light and driving on the opposite side of the road.

Mr Davis - a self employed worker in the grocery trade - had gone to the High Street in a taxi.

McPhee had earlier spent seven minutes in the Beath Inn pub on the street before driving away. He then struck Mr Davis and failed to stop.

Members of the public who witnessed the collision phoned the emergency services.

Mr Davis was pronounced dead at 9.15pm. He had suffered a fractured skull and haemorrhages in his brain.

Mr Anderson said the victim had suffered a "severe traumatic brain injury".

He also had fractures to the upper ribs, sternum, left arm, left thigh and pelvis.

The cause of death was given as blunt force head injury due to road traffic collision.

Mr Davis' family said he was much loved and, together with his late partner, had worked together to make Cowdenbeath Market Garden a real community project. 

Police discovered that McPhee was the driver and tracked him down in the north of Scotland. He made no comment during a formal interview.

Around a month after the collision, officers traced the Audi to a licensed vehicle recycling facility in Thornton.

By that time, it had been "fully dismantled" and collision investigators were unable to carry out a proper examination of the car. 

However, they were able to determine that the Audi appeared to have functioning brakes and steering around the time of the collision.

Defence advocate John Scullion KC said McPhee had fully accepted his guilt.

He added: “He has asked me to convey his apologies in court.

“There is nothing I can say which will alleviate the pain and suffering which has been endured by Mr Davis’ family and that they continue to endure.

“Mr McPhee hopes they may find solace in hearing him accepting responsibility for causing Mr Davis’ death.

“It is accepted that a custodial sentence is inevitable.”

Lord Scott banned McPhee from driving and told him that the maximum sentence available to the court was life imprisonment.

He added: “The fact that you have pleaded guilty will perhaps be the greatest mitigation available to you.”

Sentence was deferred for background reports. McPhee was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh next month.