A martial arts champion who ploughed a van into a petrol pump in Dundee, narrowly avoiding the forecourt attendant, has been jailed.
Mixed-martial-arts (MMA) fighter Kevin “The Animal” Lobban, also admitted a string of charges of domestic abuse against his former partner.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison, backdated to November last year.
He was also ordered to serve a 16-month driving ban, from the point he leaves prison.
Petrol station crash
Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard how Lobban pulled into the Jet station forecourt at 9.30pm on October 18 2021 and staff heard a “loud bang”.
Fiscal depute Michael Dunlop said Lobban – who does not have a driving licence – had careered the van into pumps one and two.
A passenger left the van to try to remove metal cladding from the unit, which had stuck to the van.
As he then drove off, Lobban nearly struck an employee who had come to investigate.
Staff phoned police, having noted Lobban’s registration.
Officers found the vehicle – registered to LRK Scaffolding – and Lobban’s passport within 20 minutes.
Domestic terror
The court heard after the filling station smash, at 10pm, “heavily intoxicated” Lobban showed up at his former partner’s house and lay down outside.
When he entered the house, the frightened woman activated a police alarm.
Just before 10.30pm, police spotted Lobban walking down Claverhouse Road.
After arrest, he caused a disturbance in the police van, then denied knowledge of the petrol pump crash.
After agreeing to – and failing – a breath test, Lobban was required to provide more samples but told officers to “f*** off,” challenged them to fight and had to be handcuffed and put in leg restraints.
Lobban admitted driving dangerously and failing to provide breath samples.
He also pled guilty to a campaign of domestic abuse towards the woman, to whom he fled after the crash, between June 2020 and September 2022.
Nine domestic abuse convictions
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael, sentencing, said: “You pled guilty to charges which included abusive behaviour against an ex-partner over 15 months.
“You shouted, swore, threatened and demeaned her and you spat at her.
“You have nine domestic abuse convictions including assault.
“You’ve been on two courses intended to tackle your offending. They have not.
“You forced a pedestrian to jump out the way and you failed to provide a specimen of breath.
“Because of the nature of the convictions custody is inevitable.”
‘Limited insight’
In mitigation, defence solicitor Jim Laverty said: “Because of the interview with social work we know he has limited insight into his abusive behaviour and how it affects his former partners.
“He does come from a background where this behaviour occurred.
“He is under no doubt this behaviour is not normal.
“He is aware any domestically abusive behaviour not only impacts on those it is directed against but has a ripple effect, particularly with his children and those with familial relations.
‘Most dangerous incident’
Garage owner Sebastian Nonis said the recently-installed pump – which cost a five-figure sum – had to be replaced.
Mr Nonis, 57, said the crash was the worst he had seen in 25 years of running the petrol station.
“He came in, he kept going, he hit the pump.
“There was a bang noise. Two of my members of staff went out and he went again.
“He nearly went into the member of staff.
“This is the biggest, most dangerous incident here.
“There’s been a couple of incidents… but not drunks – just driver negligence, not leaving handbrakes on.”
Lobban was jailed for almost a year and a half after he tried to roll a whisky barrel downstairs at busy Rendezvous nightclub in Dundee, spat at one police officer and tried to perform a martial arts act on another in October 2013.
He won national titles at amateur level in kickboxing, boxing and MMA.
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