A KILLER drink-driver and his twin brother have been jailed after running over and burying the body of a charity cyclist.

Alexander McKellar ploughed into much-loved grandad Tony Parsons, 63, with his pick-up truck on the A82 between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum in Argyll and Bute on September 29 2017.

The deer stalker and his brother Robert buried the ex-Navy officer in remote woods in a bid to cover up the killing.

Mr Parsons' disappearance sparked a massive police hunt -including an emotional BBC Crimewatch TV appeal by his son Mike – and his body was not found until three years later.

At Glasgow High Court today Lord Armstrong sentenced Alexander McKellar to 12 years for culpable homicide, reduced from 17 years after he admitted to his charges.

Robert McKellar was sentenced to five years and three months for attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The sentences were backdated to December 2, 2021, when the brothers were taken into custody.

Alexander McKellar appeared teary-eyed as he and his sibling were led away in handcuffs.

Lord Armstrong stated: "I have no doubt Mr Parsons' family have been deeply affected by this.

"I have read three victim impact statements – one by his widow, daughter and son.

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"The terms clearly indicate the profound, devastating and continuing impact your actions have had on their lives.

"You have caused them a devastating loss and emotional ongoing harm.

"I suspect no sentence will ever be regarded as sufficient."

Ruth McQuaid, Procurator Fiscal for High Court, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “These brothers failed in their attempts to obstruct and evade justice.

“These were heinous and calculating crimes which brought untold distress to Mr Parsons’ wife, children, and grandchildren.

“They were left in the intolerable situation of not knowing where he was or what had happened to him.

“The fact that Anthony’s disappearance was subject to a major missing persons enquiry for several years meant his family were left in the dark over his whereabouts.

“But all the time, Alexander and Robert McKellar were going about their everyday lives knowing that, in fact, he was dead and that they had buried him amongst animal carcasses.

“They kept this secret with wilful disregard for Mr Parson’s family.

“Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the unconscionable and brutal actions of these two men.”

We told how Mr Parson's body was found by police after fiend Alexander McKellar confessed to his fiancee about his vile crime at Christmas in 2020 and led her to the shallow grave site where he buried the cyclist.

She then bravely left a can of Red Bull at the scene to mark the grave's location and called cops.

The court was told if not for her actions, Mr Parsons' body may never have been found.

The hearing last month was also told how Mr Parson had initially set out on a charity cycle having battled prostate cancer.

The grandfather planned to ride through the night to complete the 100 mile journey from Fort William back to his home in Tillicoultry, Clacks in one day.

Mr Parsons initially headed north by train on the morning of September 29 2017.

He sent a couple of messages around 5pm to his wife Margaret later that afternoon confirming he had arrived and checking how she was.

Mr Prentice: "That was the last contact she had with her husband."

The court heard Mr Parsons made a stop off at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel around 11pm that night.

McKellars were also there with a German hunting party.

A valiant Mr Parsons decided to continue on his cycle despite the awful weather.

He was then on the A82 when he was struck at speed by the Isuzu pick-up driven by Alexander, who had downed alcohol at the hotel that night.

The McKellars had been returning home to the Auch Estate at the time.

Mr Prentice said: "Alexander McKellar ascertained that Mr Parsons – though severely injured – was still alive.

"He did not call the emergency services preventing any prospect of him receiving treatment."

The twins fled, dumped their phones before returning to the scene in a Toyota.

They then put Mr Parsons' body and his bike in the motor, drove to the Auch Estate leaving him overnight.M

Mr Prentice: "After attending with a shooting party the next day, the body was taken to a peaty area of the estate.

"A grave was dug and the body placed in it and covered.

"The personal possessions of Mr Parsons were also disposed of.

"Such was the location that if Alexander McKellar had not disclosed where the grave was, the remains are unlikely to have ever been found."

Mr Parsons was reported missing on October 2.

The large scale probe included his son Mike appearing on Crimewatch appealing for help to find him.

In it, he proudly spoke of his dad while going on to state: "We cannot move on.

"We cannot say our final goodbyes."

In August 2018, police got an anonymous letter asking them to pay attention to "the twins" who live in Bridge of Orchy as they had been in the hotel the night Mr Parsons went missing.

Months later, officers spoke to the McKellars and asked if they had been involved in a road accident that evening.

No further action was initially taken following the meeting.In June 2020, they were again quizzed about Mr Parsons.

They confirmed being in the hotel with a hunting party that night, but had not seen the cyclist.

Three months later, it emerged Alexander had started a relationship with Miss Muirhead having met on a dating site.

It was in November of that year she quizzed him on his past.

He went on to admit that he struck a "cyclist" three years earlier having been driving at excessive speed and under the influence.

Alexander added the man "fitted the description" of Mr Parsons.

Mr Prentice: "He said that he had been panicking."

Miss Muirhead left her can of Red Bull at the site and alerted police.

The search of site began on December 30 2020.

Mr Prentice said: "The Red Bull can was still present.

"The description of other landmarks were consistent with what was found at the site by officers."

During the dig, investigators initially discovered a segment of red material, which matched the jacket Mr Parsons had been wearing.

Mr Prentice said: " Between January 13 and 14, the body was exposed and, with great care, recovered from the mechanically dug grave."

Mr Parsons was found to have suffered "catastrophic" rib, pelvic and spine fractures following the collision.

Mr Prentice said without medical help, Mr Parsons was unlikely to have survived more than 20 to 30 minutes. It was, however, unlikely he would have died instantly

The McKellars were eventually charged and first appeared in court in December 2021.

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The court heard today Alexander wanted to apologise for "the trauma" Mr Parsons relatives had suffered.

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