Van driver hit and ran over man in Edinburgh street attack

A van driver who hit a man with his vehicle and drove over him in a street attack has been jailed for five and a half years.

Electrician Robert Burnett attacked the man with the Ford Transit on Ardshiel Avenue, in Edinburgh, leaving him seriously injured.

The 28-year-old from Edinburgh was earlier convicted of assaulting the victim to his severe injury and to the danger of his life on October 10, 2022, by driving at excessive speed, striking him on the body, and driving over him with the van.

He was originally charged with attempted murder, but was acquitted of that aggravation when the jury at his trial did not find that part of the charge proved.

The victim suffered multiple rib fractures and internal injuries in the attack.

Judge Alison Stirling noted from a background report prepared on Burnett, who had claimed that it was an accident, that he did not accept he was guilty and intended to appeal against his conviction.

She said she was satisfied that the van was used for the purpose of committing or facilitating the offence and banned Burnett from driving for nine years and nine months.

A judge told Burnett at the High Court in Edinburgh: “Custody is the only appropriate disposal having regard to the serious nature of your offending.”

Defence counsel David Nicolson KC asked the judge to restrict the period of disqualification and said Burnett had his own business as an electrician and travelled in the Edinburgh area, pricing jobs and working.