New Stevenston man admits reversing car over his girlfriend

A man reversed his car over his girlfriend after she told not him not to drive because he had been drinking, a court was told.

At the High Court in Glasgow Robert Lovelock, 27, from New Stevenston, who is also known as Robert MacDonald, admitted seriously assaulting his victim by pushing her to the ground and then reversing his Vauxhall Corsa over her body on April 10 at Farm Road, Hamilton.

He was originally charged with attempted murder, but his plea to the lesser offence was accepted by the Crown.

He also admitted striking his victim's step sister on the body with the car.

The couple had been visiting relatives and at 10pm he said he wanted to go home.

Prosecutor Allan Nicol told the court: “They had a disagreement and the victim told the accused she was not leaving as her mother had arranged to pick them up and that he could not drive as he had been drinking.”

The row continued outside the relative's house on the driveway.

Lovelock got into his car and their was a struggle as the woman, accompanied by her step sister, tried to stop him driving away.

He got out the car, pushed her to the ground and then attempted to drive off.

She leaned into the car through the front passenger window and was dragged a short distance before she fell to the ground.

At this point Lovelock stopped the car and then reversed, knocking the victim's step-sister to the ground and driving over the woman who was still lying on the ground.

Lovelock then drove forward and got out the car and spoke to his victim, before driving off.

They then called police and an ambulance.

The victim was taken to Hairmyres Hospital suffering from a cut to her forehead and bruising to her body and elbow and tenderness in her lumbar area.

Her step sister suffered a fracture to a wrist bone,

Mr Nicole said: “At the time of the accident although it was dark the street lights were on and the accused would have been able to see the women and would have been fully aware of their presence.”

The court heard that fibres from the victim's top were found of the car's axle and marks were found on the rear of the car consistent with her head and upper body coming into contact with it as it reversed over her.

Lovelock also admitted assaulting his girlfriend on January 13 at his home.

He caused her to fall and then as she lay on the floor bit her on the war and kicked her repeatedly on the body.

She tried to get up and leave, but the accused got a knife and told her to stay.

She eventually managed to leave the house and phone the police.

Lovelock also admitted assaulting his girlfriend on January 13 at his home at 110 Woodside Street, New Stevenston.

Lovelock, who is a prisoner in Addiewell, will be sentenced next month.

Judge Sean Murphy QC called for background reports. Defence QC Tony Graham will make his plea in mitigation when the case next calls.