Man jailed for attempted murder after hit-and-run attack

A man who deliberately drove a car into a pedestrian in a hit-and-run attack has been jailed for six years and eight months.

Lewis Burns, 31, crashed into Michael McKenzie on Lochend Drive in the Lochend area of Edinburgh on 3 February.

Burns drove straight towards McKenzie, who rolled up onto the bonnet then landed on the pavement. Burns then returned and hit his victim again as he lay injured on the road.

He admitted assaulting McKenzie to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, impairment and to the danger of his life and attempting to murder him.

A judge told Burns at the High Court in Edinburgh that he had admitted using his car as a weapon to strike McKenzie not once but twice.

Lady Haldane said: "Using your car in this way was a murderous attack with serious, potentially life-threatening consequences for the complainer."

She said if she was sentencing him for the crime following a trial she would have imposed a 10-year prison term.

"It is undoubtedly and extremely serious offence," Lady Haldane added.

The judge banned Burns from driving for eight years and four months.

The court heard that McKenzie was heading home from meeting a friend at the pub when he was attacked.

Advocate depute Scott McKenzie said McKenzie was walking to a bus stop when he heard shouting and saw a woman with blood on her face arguing with Burns.

The prosecutor said McKenzie did not know Burns or the woman but he believed the woman to be hurt and told Burns not to hit her, which led to a brief fight between the victim and the accused.

He said: "While McKenzie was walking away he heard a car engine revving behind him.

"He turned to see a white car mount the pavement and drive straight towards him."

A witness said the Skoda Octavia being driven by Burns was travelling fast towards the victim, who had no time move out of the way.

The court heard the victim was struck to the side of his legs and thrown onto the bonnet of the car and then fell onto the pavement.

The prosecutor said McKenzie tried to stand but collapsed in the middle of the road while Burns drove round a nearby roundabout and came back towards him.

"He tried to roll towards a parked car to get out of the way but the accused drove at him and struck him again," the prosecutor said.

"The vehicle came to a stop and Mr McKenzie was unable to move while the car was over the top of him."

Burns then drove away.

McKenzie phoned a friend who ran to the scene and found him with one of his legs bent at an unnatural angle and in extreme pain.

He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered limb fractures and later underwent surgery.

Burns was stopped by police in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, on 11 February and arrested.

Defence counsel Kenneth Cloggie said it was recognised that a custodial sentence was inevitable.

He said Burns accepted full responsibility for what happened but added: "He did not go out with the intention of causing harm."

Cloggie said Burns acknowledged he had made "a bad decision" and accepted he had to face the consequences.