Glasgow woman who drove car at man in street disturbance sentenced
Jamie Leigh McGregor, 27, hit Christopher Leitch with a hired Toyota C-RH in an assault to the danger of the life of the victim on March 15, 2022.
A video clip of it was circulated on social media prompting a police investigation into the offence.
A judge was told that a resident in Graham Avenue, Clydebank, in West Dunbartonshire, became aware of a disturbance outside and began recording a 48-second video clip of events.
Mr Leitch was seen to be pulling blue bins onto the roadway in an apparent attempt to create a barricade before the Toyota accelerated in his direction.
As the vehicle approached him, brake lights were seen and it turned to the right but struck a bin and Mr Leitch.
He tried to jump out of the way of the Toyota but was hit and thrown to the ground. He escaped serious injury.
Footage was later recovered from McGregor’s mobile phone which appeared to have been recorded accidentally and she could be heard squealing and shouting as she sounded hoarse and upset.
McGregor, of Lambhill, Glasgow, earlier admitted assaulting Mr Leitch to the danger of his life by driving the car towards him and striking him on the body with the vehicle.
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The court heard that it was understood the offences arose as a result of a continuing disagreement between McGregor’s then-boyfriend, James Lang, 32, who was in the car with her, and his ex-partners.
Defence counsel Euan Dow said McGregor had described being “scared and distressed” as various items were thrown in the street and meant to give Mr Leitch a fright.
He said: “Obviously the vehicle clipped the complainer and there was clearly potential for serious injury.”
Mr Dow said McGregor was seen to be “visibly upset, shaking and crying” following the incident and has expressed remorse.
He argued that the court could see it as an “isolated incident” which was out of character for McGregor. A judge told McGregor that he accepted the offence was not premeditated and was committed in what appeared to be a panic.
Lord Fairley said: “Fortunately for you, no serious injury was caused to the complainer.”
He said he was persuaded that a custodial sentence was not inevitable and placed her on a community payback order and a restriction of liberty order.
She was ordered to carry out the maximum of 300 hours of unpaid work within two years and abide by a curfew requiring her to stay at home at nighttime for 12 months.