A 21-year-old Angus hit-and-run driver has been placed on a community payback order, fined £150 and given six penalty points on his licence.
Stephen Cochrane, Hill Street, Arbroath, initially appeared from custody on an attempted murder charge, which was subsequently reduced to one of assault.
Cochrane previously admitted assaulting a man at Keptie Street on May 26 by driving a car forward, at speed, directly at him, causing him to jump on the bonnet, whereby he was thrown over the roof to his injury.
He further admitted failing to stop and report the accident and committing the offence while on bail.
Defence agent Nick Whelan told Arbroath Sheriff Court: ”It was a fairly unusual set of circumstances. He was a passing observer to an incident that was taking place but matters escalated from there.
”He has spent three months in custody for this matter which he very much regrets. He reacted badly on the spur of the moment and is genuine in his regret.”
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond earlier told the court an argument had broken out between a group of people celebrating a friend’s forthcoming wedding and things spilled outside the pub. A witness said the complainer ran after the vehicle Cochrane was sitting in and shouted at him before kicking his car.
He stopped and reversed back past the complainer who was standing in the middle of the road.
She said the car then drove forward at the complainer and hit him, sending him flying over the bonnet and roof, and he ended up on the road.
The car drove off without stopping. Police were called and they attended Cochrane’s house.
They found the car described by the witness and found it had a shoe pattern on the bonnet which was an impression of the complainer’s boot.
The complainer suffered pain to his right wrist, left shoulder and grazing to the left forearm. He did not require medical attention.
Cochrane handed himself in the next day.
Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a community payback order for 18 months with 120 hours of unpaid work, a £150 fine and six points.
He warned Cochrane that this was a direct alternative to custody and he would go to jail if it was not done properly.