Man who stole car & drove off with owner clinging on jailed

A carjacker who drove off with the owner clinging to his VW Golf was yesterday (Fri) jailed for six years and four months.

Michael MacDonald, 33, shouted to relatives sitting in the public benches "You get the same for murdering a wean."

This is believed to be a reference to lesbian couple Margaret Wade and Marie Sweeney who were each jailed for six years and four months by the same judge for neglect of their two-year-old daughter who starved to death.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that MacDonald, from Drumchapel, took a short test drive in Dr Andrew Nath's VW Golf after seeing it advertised for sale on Gumtree.

MacDonald then stopped in Park Quadrant, Glasgow, briefly before driving off as 32-year-old Dr Nath was half in and half out the vehicle

He drove erratically at speed while Dr Nath pleaded with him to stop. The doctor who was assaulted by MacDonald tried to grab the steering wheel.

Dr Nath eventually had to jump from the car sustaining a broken collarbone and scarring.

MacDonald was originally charged with attempted murder, but pled guilty to the reduced charge of assaulting and robbing the doctor to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger of life at Park Quadrant, Glasgow, on June 7, last year.

He also admitted dangerous driving in Great Western Road and Anniesland Cross, Glasgow, by failing to stop for a marked police car and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Judge Lady Stacey ordered MacDonald to be monitored in the community for two years after his release from prison. She also banned him from driving for seven years and nine months.

She told MacDonald : "You continued to drive that car while the owner was clinging on to it. Later that day you failed to stop for a marked police car and drove on the wrong side of the road. That was extremely dangerous. You are a danger to the public."

The court heard that Dr Nath's foot got trapped in the door at one point during the terrifying incident.

Prosecutor Duncan McPhie said: "As the doctor tried to halt MacDonald, he yelled: 'Somebody help me".

"The accused drove off while Dr Nath kept a grip on the steering wheel. He put his feet on the door frame and held on.

"Dr Nath recalls the car driving at speed and that he was shouting at MacDonald to stop.

"MacDonald began to push Dr Nath on the stomach repeatedly trying to get him out."

The court heard MacDonald then ploughed through road barriers as the now terrified victim's foot got stuck in a door.

The thug went on to punch the doctor in the face.

But, Dr Nath eventually managed to free his foot and jump onto the ground.

MacDonald raced off weaving in and out of traffic in the city's Great Western Road, then going through red lights and mounting a pavement to evade police.

Dr Nath's Volkswagen was then spotted later that afternoon near MacDonald's home in Drumchapel.

MacDonald was not traced until a week later at a house in the city's Govan. The key for Dr Nath's car was then found lying in a tenement there.

Defence QC Tony Graham said: "He has had a lack of structure in his life. At 33 his contribution to society has been little. His intention was to test drive the car and steal it."