Man admits driving car at schoolboy after match at Hampden

A 14-year-old football fan suffered serious injuries after he was thrown into the air when a car was driven at him.

The schoolboy was struck after a Motherwell game, and “flipped over the bonnet” of Nathan Mortimer’s Mercedes.

He had watched his team play Queen’s Park at Hampden earlier that day and was walking to Mount Florida train station with friends.

Mortimer sped off from Bolton Road, and left the teenager - who cannot be identified - injured on the ground.

A passer by helped the child and an ambulance was phoned and Mortimer was later identified as the driver.

Mortimer, from Baillieston, Glasgow, was originally charged with attempted murder but it was later changed to assault to severe injury and the danger of life on July 15, last year.

He pleded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the assault charge.

The court heard the 14-year-old Motherwell fan and his friends had been at a football match against Queen’s Park at Hampden, and left the stadium around 5pm.

Procurator fiscal depute Emily Macreath said they became aware of a group of males, dressed in dark clothing walking in the direction of Cathcart Road, in front of them.

She said: “(The boy) and his friends continued walking onto Cathcart Road, and became aware of shouting from the group of other males.

“(The boy) realised that they were shouting at him and his friends, however continued walking, turning into Bolton drive and noted the other males to have remained or continued along Cathcart Road.”

As the 14-year-old continued towards the train station he heard heard shouting and turned to see the same group again.

The two groups of boys “began to exchange insults and both became walking slowly towards each other”.

Miss Macreath added that a number of males in the group the teenager was walking with, had glass bottles.

Mortimer then arrived in his blue Mercedes with private registration and drove towards the group of males in the dark clothing and stopped to speak to them.

He then began to drive slowly up Bolton Drive in the direction of the train station.

Some of the males who had been with the schoolboy threw bottles towards his car, and some hit the windscreen.

Mortimer then drove towards the opposing group and was described by witnesses as driving slowly at first then with "hard acceleration, revving loudly".

Miss Macreath said: ““(The boy) at this time was walking with his back to the vehicle in the process of crossing the road making his way to the train station.

“Due to the sound of the revving of the engine the group attempted to disperse.

"(The boy) turned and was facing the car and attempted to run towards the pavement but the accused drove deliberately at him and struck him on the body.

“(The boy) then flipped over the bonnet and landed on the road on the front of his body.”

A witness, who watched from a window, estimated Mortimer was driving a 30mph at the point of impact.

Mortimer then sped off from the scene.

The court heard the teenager was helped to his feet by his friends and a passer by, and was seen limping and holding his wrist.

He was taken by his friends ono the train station where he was “dazed and disorientated” with hand and head injuries.

Police and an ambulance were called and he was initially treated by paramedics then taken to the Children's Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University hospital.

He was taken to the accident and emergency department and found to have cuts and swelling to his hands and a lump on the back of his head.

An x-ray confirmed no breaks, and he spent the night in hospital for observations having suffered a concussion.

Miss Macreath said the child's have reported has been badly affected and has become anxious and lost confidence.

She said: “He has removed himself from social media and stopped going to play football. He also no longer attends football matches which he loved.

“This in turn has had an impact on his friendships. The incident along with the potential prospect of giving evidence has caused him stress a time when he was studying for his National 5 exams.”

Mortimer went to the police office on July 23 with his solicitor and gave a no comment interview.

He was cautioned and charged with attempted murder and made no reply. The charge was later reduced.

Sheriff Martin Jones QC deferred sentence for reports and remanded Mortimer in custody.