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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ayrshire Post

'Calculated' attempted murder saw thug ram man's car before going to the pub

A man who carried out a "planned and calculated" car attack on a motorist in a bid to murder him before going to the pub was jailed for nine years today.

Alexander McConville drove an Audi estate with false registration plates at John Harvey's vehicle, resulting in the victim stopping driving and leaving the car after the "shunt".

But McConville, 37, then attacked his target again with the Audi and left the victim with multiple fractures following a second collision.

A judge told McConville that his crime had left Mr Harvey in hospital for several weeks and he continues to experience almost daily pain following the attempted murder on May 11 in 2018.

Lord Arthurson said that given the gravity of the offence and McConville's record of previous offending "a substantial custodial term" had to be imposed.

He also ordered that the repeat offender, who had previously been jailed for serious assault and dangerous driving, should also be banned from driving for 12 years.

McConville had denied committing the murder bid on Mr Harvey, 57, in the attack on the A713 road near to Polnessan, at Patna, in East Ayrshire.

But a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh unanimously found him guilty of assaulting the victim to his severe injury, permanent impairment and danger of life and attempting to murder him.

McConville did not give evidence in his own defence during the trial.

Advocate depute David Dickson told the court that it could be inferred on the evidence that McConville was the driver of the car used in the murder bid which he said was carried out in "a planned and calculated manner".

The prosecutor said that McConville had decided "to take the law into his own hands" after an earlier alleged assault.

The court heard that arrangements had been made for the delivery of a meal from a chip shop to Mr Harvey's home to ensure that he was at the premises.

Once that was confirmed after he answered the door McConville had lay in wait in the black Audi outside a funeral director's business and watched as Mr Harvey left the address before following him, which was caught on camera.

McConville then struck the car he was in from behind.

"The purpose was to get him to come out of his car," said Mr Dickson.

After the victim was then injured by the Audi, the vehicle used in the attack was driven off to a pub.

Following the verdict defence counsel Mark Moir KC said a background report was not required ahead of sentencing of McConville as he had previously been jailed and he did not wish such a report to be prepared.

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