Castle Huntly absconder jailed after brutal assault while on-the-run
A prisoner on the run from jail who subjected a car enthusiast to a brutal attack before trying to steal his high performance vehicle has been jailed for four years.
A prisoner on the run from jail who subjected a car enthusiast to a brutal attack before trying to steal his high performance vehicle has been jailed for four years.
Kieran Kiely, 24, who had absconded from Castle Huntly prison just four days earlier, started talking to 37-year-old Christopher Smith about his prized Renault Clio 172 sport as he tinkered under the bonnet.
Minutes later Kiely became violent, attacking Smith and constantly demanding the car keys.
Kiely lunged forward and managed to grab the car keys, house keys and mobile phone from Mr Smith's pockets and got into the Clio.
But quick-thinking Mr Smith, who was bleeding heavily from a head wound, managed to reach under the bonnet and put out leads which immobilised the car.
Mr Smith then ran off shouting loudly for help. He was chased by Kiely and when he fell he was hit repeatedly on the head with the half brick and kicked several times on the body.
Kiely then returned to the car and repeatedly tried, without success, to start it. He was still trying to start the car when the police arrived.
When he saw them approaching he got out the car and ran off throwing the keys away.
Kiely was arrested and when the clothes he was wearing were analysed his tracksuit top and trainers had Mr Smith's blood on them.
Mr Smith suffered bruising to his face and three wounds on his head, which will leave permanent scarring.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Kiely has a number of previous convictions which include car theft and assault and robbery.
Kiely admitted assaulting Mr Smith and robbing him of car keys, a mobile phone and a house keys and attempting to rob him of a car on July 17th in Telford Street, Bellshill.
Defence counsel John McElroy, representing Kiely, said: “He fully accepts he should not have been at liberty at the time.”
Mr McElroy said that Kiely had absconded in order to see his grandmother who was seriously ill and added: “He understands this must have been a terrifying episode and is very remorseful. He took Valium for the first time and alcohol before this incident and has no recollection of what happened.”
Judge Lord Boyd told Kiely: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on a man who was unknown to you and going about his lawful business.
“It must have been a terrifying ordeal.”