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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Connor Gordon

Dumbarton electrician chased down and ran over teenage boys he says bullied and intimidated his son

A dad ran over two teenage boys amid claims his son was being bullied.

Kevin Connolly, 41, ploughed into the 15-years-olds in Dumbarton after running after them when his porch window was smashed by one of their associates.

Connolly struck one of the boy's who was helped into a park by the second teenager.

READ MORE: Man dies in Glasgow flat after police race to scene of 'disturbance'

The second boy was also hit and Connolly continued to drive over his legs.

Connolly's lawyer told the High Court in Glasgow that youths had targeted his son in the past.

The first offender initially faced a double attempted murder charge against the boys.

However, the Crown accepted pleas of guilty to assaulting them to the danger of their lives on September 12, 2021.

The court heard the boys were with others in the Brucehill area outside Connolly's home around 8.30pm.

Prosecutor Leanne McQuillan said: "One of the group - not one of the victims - threw a large stone at Connolly's front door causing the porch window to beside it to break."

The youths fled the scene while Connolly went behind the wheel of his Ford Mondeo car.

One of the boys entered a nearby park and was tailed by Connolly.

Miss McQuillan: "As he made his way to the entrance, Connolly's vehicle mounted the pavement and struck the boy from behind causing him to fall to the ground."

The other boy then helped the victim to his feet and carried him into the park.

Miss McQuillan: "Connolly drove his vehicle onto the footpath in the park and then onto the grass where the boys were.

"He drove at speed towards the other boy and struck him to the right leg causing him to fall to the ground.

"He then drove over both of the other boy's legs."

Both boys were taken to hospital while Connolly fled to his sister's house in a "terrified" state.

Police noted that Connolly's car had signs of damage to it.

Connolly notified police of his whereabouts and reported vandalisms to his property and car.

He was arrested two days later.

One of the boys was treated for fractures to his foot with metal plates inserted and skin taken from his thigh.

Miss McQuillan added: "There will be permanent scarring to the foot and the thigh as a result of the surgical procedure.

"He was not able to bear weight on his foot for six weeks and will have permanently reduced mobility."

The other boy fortunately escaped with minor injuries and was discharged after observation.

Sean Templeton, defending the dad-of-three electrician, told the court: "The middle son was subject to a campaign by youths who took to bullying and intimidating him.

"This escalated where the intimidation moved from himself to his home.

"The child ran out the house and pursued the youths."

The advocate added that Connolly initially went to look for his son who he thought would be seriously assaulted by the youths.

He stated: "He did not see his son and came across the boys - he was in a panic as he thought his son was going to be set about and that's the reasons the actions were inflicted the way did."

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Lord Richardson: "You have pled guilty to serious offences.

"I am persuaded to continue bail but don't read anything into that."

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