Former soldier drove van at doorman after nightclub refusal

A former soldier drove a van towards club security staff in a murder bid after being refused entry to the venue in Fife.

Alan Adsley tried to kill Michael Harbison, 46, who was working as a doorman at Kitty’s nightclub in Kirkcaldy last year.

The 38-year-old is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of attempted murder at the High Court n Edinburgh on Friday.

A prosecutor told jurors at that they might think the victim was “a very lucky man” to escape without serious injury following the attack.

Advocate depute Richard Goddard QC said that Adsley must have known that the Mr Harbison was vulnerable as he was facing the other direction and not in any position to see him driving the vehicle at him,

Mr Goddard told the jury that he had deliberately given the victim “no chance”.

Adsley, formerly of Craigearn Avenue, Kirkcaldy, had denied attempting to murder Mr Harbison on March 14 last year by driving a van at him and striking on the body to his injury and to the danger of his life, but was found guilty of the offence on a majority verdict.

A witness to the incident said they heard Adsley threaten to stab door staff, rape their wives and blow up their houses.

A physical confrontation then broke out and the assailant was punched in the face before leaving the scene and reappearing in the white van.

The roofer had been freed on bail from sheriff courts at Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen at the time he committed the offence.

He earlier admitted that that he was driving the vehicle while unfit to drive through drink.

The trial judge, Lady Scott, called for a background report to be prepared ahead of sentencing next month and told him: “You will appreciate this is a very serious offence.”

Adsley was remanded in custody at the end of the proceedings.