Court hears man "sedated for weeks" after Glasgow gangland attack

A member of an alleged crime family has said he had no memory of an attack that left him with serious facial wounds.

Steven Daniel was set upon after a 100mph car chase through streets in the north of Glasgow in May 2017.

Daniel's Skoda Octavia was rammed at the on-ramp of the M8 motorway in the city's Port Dundas before it is claimed he was attacked with weapons.

But, the 39 year-old told jurors his next memory was waking up in hospital where he spent weeks recovering.

The ex-taxi firm director was giving evidence at the trial of six men allegedly part of the "Lyons" criminal gang said to have targeted the "Daniel" clan.

Daniel today denied his family were involved in crime and that it was "not true" there was a feud with the "Lyons".

Brian Ferguson (37), Andrew Gallacher (40), Robert Pickett (53), Andrew Sinclair (32), John Hardie (35) and Peter Bain (45) deny charges at the High Court in Glasgow.

The allegations include a string of attempted murders over a 15 month period.

It is alleged they targeted Mr Fitzsimmons, Thomas Bilsland, Gary Petty, Robert Daniel, and Steven Daniel.

The charge spans between June 2016 and September 2017 listing locations in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Manchester.

Daniel – who used the name Peebles in court – was attacked on May 18 2017.

He had spent the previous evening at a Rangers and Aberdeen match at Ibrox.

The trial heard he joined a man called Steven Malcolm, who owned the Glasgow Private Hire taxi firm and had a hospitality box at the stadium.

Daniel dropped people off after the match before heading home himself.

He was in the city's Milton when he then spotted a Volkswagen Golf facing him.

Daniel said the vehicle then "deliberately" hit the side of his Skoda.

An Audi S3 soon joined the chase as Daniel "put the foot down" to get away "as fast as he could".

The pursuit then continued into the nearby Possil area.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney asked Daniel what speed he was going at.

He replied at one stage he was "doing about a 100mph".

The Audi ended up being the only car going after Daniel as he raced towards the city's M8.

Mr Kearney: "As that was happening, what was your intention?"

Daniel: "To drive down the wrong side of the motorway to get away."

But, he recalled his car then being "smashed into".

Daniel went on: "It was presumably the Audi...then I just passed out. I (remember) skidding towards a pole at the foot of the road."

The court was shown photos of Daniel's badly damaged car.

Mr Kearney said there appeared to be "blood" that had "pooled" below the car.

The prosecutor asked him: "You don't recall the assault upon you?"

Daniel: "No."

The court heard he was then "under sedation" in hospital for "weeks".

This involved at last two operations for "extensive" injuries.

Mr Kearney: "You were seriously injured to the head and face. You bear the scars of that today?"

Daniel: "Yes."

Jurors were told he may need further surgery and is scarred for life.

Daniel went on to state it has had "quite a bit" of an effect on him.

The court also heard Daniel's car was found to have had a tracking device on it.

But, he insisted he had no enemies before being attacked.

Mr Kearney: "The Daniel family are alleged to be a serious organised crime group."

Daniel: "Allegedly."

He also denied there was any "dispute" with the "Lyons" family.

The court heard Daniel knew Kevin "Gerbil" Carroll, who was murdered in Glasgow's Robroyston in 2010.

Carroll had been described as an "enforcer" for the Daniel family.

Mr Kearney: "He was allegedly responsible for many violent crimes?"

Daniel: "Possibly."

Mr Kearney said a Ross Monaghan was later acquitted of the killing before a man called William Paterson was convicted at a separate trial.

The prosecutor asked Daniel: "Do you have ill feeling towards them?".

He replied: "No."

The court heard it was initially feared Daniel had suffered "blast" or explosive-type injuries.

But, Dr Mark Ansell - the surgeon who treated Daniel - said he believed what happened involved the use of a "heavy bladed weapon".

Jurors went on to hear the extent of the facial damage.

Dr Ansell said this included "multiple" deep wounds as well as fractures.

He added: "His nose was hanging off on the left hand side near his ear."

Daniel initially went through four hours of surgery before a further eight-hour operation to reconstruct his face.

The doctor said the injuries were a "significant threat to his life".

The court heard Daniel is expected to require further treatment.

Prosecutor Mr Kearney also asked Dr Ansell: "Any defensive injuries?"

He replied: "He didn't seem to have any.

The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues.