Paisley man jailed for reversing over owner of car he was trying to steal

A man's been jailed for eight years and eight months for trying to kill a man by running him over with his own car.

37 years-old Steven Payne reversed at terrified Andrew O'Donnell, who was trying to stop his car being stolen, during the incident in April last year.

Mr O'Donnell had earlier clung on desperately to his Volkswagen Polo as Payne took it from outside his home in Paisley.

Judge Lord Matthews told Payne: “I accept you didn't go out intentionally to try to murder someone. You acted with very great recklessness as to the safety of your victim who was simply trying to stop you stealing his car. He could very easily have been killed.

“Thankfully his injuries were not very serious, but that is no thanks to you.”

Lord Matthews ordered Payne to be monitored in the community for three years after his release from prison.

Payne was also banned from driving for life.

His 26-year-old victim told the High Court in Glasgow he feared for his life when Payne reversed his car at him as he lay stricken on the road.

Mr O'Donnell said: “If I had not jumped onto the pavement, I would have been under the car.”

Payne denied attempted murder – insisting he had only gone out to steal that night – but a jury found him guilty.

The crime occurred outside the home Mr O'Donnell shared with his police officer girlfriend.

He had been sleeping on the couch when he was woken up by “two figures in the living room”.

One was Payne who was joined by his then partner.

Payne then raced out the door and jumped into the couple's Volkswagen.

Mr O'Donnell recalled: “I ran over to the car and tried to open the driver's door.

“As I tried to grab the occupant, he started to drive. I said: 'get out of my car'.

“He started to accelerate away and I just grabbed onto the car.

“I was holding onto the roof and the car door.”

Barefoot Mr O'Donnell bravely clung on as the car sped off.

He said: “I would say he was travelling at 30-40mph. It got to a higher speed and

I had to let go because I did not feel safe. I thought I could go under the car.”

The witness said the car reversed back three times.

Mr O'Donnell said if he had not moved the final time, he “would have been under the car”.

He needed hospital treatment for grazes and blisters and was off work for around three weeks.

Payne, also of Paisley, told jurors he had been “out to steal” that night.

He recalled Mr O'Donnell chasing after him, but was not initially aware of him holding on to the car.

Payne said: “I did not intend to hit him (Mr O'Donnell) or hurt anyone in any shape or form. I feel disgusted at his injuries. I did not attempt to murder anyone.”

Defence counsel John McElroy said: “Mr Payne has a significant record, but this is an escalation. He has expressed remorse and victim empathy.