Car thief who drove at speed as owner clung to roof in bid to stop vehicle theft jailed

A car thief drove at speed as its owner desperately clung to the roof to try and stop the vehicle being stolen.

Lewis Brydon, 23, had initially gone into the bicycle shop ran by the victim, as a friend of his asked about apparently hiring a bike.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the man became “momentarily distracted” during this.

A key for the man’s Audi S4 was sitting near the counter – Brydon then snatched it before quickly leaving the shop in Dunkeld, Perthshire last November 10.

Prosecutor David Dickson KC said the car owner went after the thief.

Mr Dickson said: “He got on an e-bike and pursued the vehicle. While cycling down the street, he shouted: ‘He is stealing my car’.”

Brydon stalled the car at one stage allowing the man to stop in front of him.

He yelled: “What are you doing? Get out.”

But, Mr Dickson told the court: “Brydon revved the engine and nudged towards [the victim] causing him to jump off the e-bike.

“Brydon accelerated and hit the man resulting in him falling onto the bonnet and striking the windscreen.”

He then sped off, over the e-bike lying in the road as the man tried to stay on the Audi.

Due to the momentum of the car, however, the businessman ended up on its roof.

Mr Dickson said: “Onlookers assessed Brydon going at approximately 50mph.

“He drove erratically, speeding up and then slowing down clearly in an attempt to dislodge [the victim] from the roof of the car.”

Brydon went for a third of a mile over Dunkeld Bridge, which had a 54ft drop to the River Tay below.

He eventually clipped a kerb at speed, hit a grass verge then ploughed into a tree.

The man was thrown from the Audi into bushes.

Brydon then ran off as the victim yelled on others to try and stop him.

The man was taken to hospital followling the crash and had only suffered scratches and abrasions following his ordeal.

Brydon was later traced as the culprit. A police officer contacted him on his mobile – he refused to state where he was, but asked: “Is the guy from the car alright?”.

He later handed himself in and stated he had been “under the influence”.

The court heard Brydon had never held a driving licence. He was also on four separate bail orders at the time for allegations of violence, theft and housebreaking.

Brydon pled guilty to an attempted murder charge in connection with this crime.

Duncan McPhie, defending, said Brydon was “profoundly sorry” for an offence described as “opportunistic and reckless”.

Lord Colbeck jailed him for six years and nine months.

The judge: “Frankly (the injuries) could have been far worse in the circumstances.

“In addition it is clear that your actions have had a long term psychological effect on the man.”