James Brown jailed for car attack on Samuel Smith
A man who ran a former friend over with a car before savagely beating him has been jailed for eight years.
James Brown, 57, struck 50-year-old Samuel Smith with the Toyota vehicle in Broomknowes Road, Glasgow, during the attack on 6 July 2013.
He was convicted of assaulting Mr Smith to his severe injury following a week-long trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in December.
Judge Lord Stewart also banned Brown from driving for 10 years.
During the trial, Mr Smith told prosecution lawyer Bill McVicar that he was struck by a car on Broomknowes Road.
He said: "The driver was James Brown. He was a friend. I know him very well."
He told Mr McVicar that he fell to the ground then got back up and started walking towards another man, Thomas McGovern, who was standing close by.
Mr Smith said that as he went to speak to Mr McGovern, who was also a close friend, he was assaulted by Brown.
The victim said he had been struck him on the back of the head with a bat or a cosh.
Mr Smith said he then fell to the ground and two other men started assaulting him as he lay there.
He added that he thought that Brown believed he had been spreading rumours about his private life.
Passing sentence, judge Lord Stewart told Brown that a custodial sentence was the only option available.
He added: "This is a very serious offence."