Driver said Leo the lion bit his backside but the big cat was in the clear

A motorist claimed he got a sample of nature in the raw when he called at a filling station for petrol.

He told Johnstone Burgh Court that a LION bounded up to him, jumped up on his back and bit him on the bottom!

But the owner of lion cub Leo – Tom Gillespie, manager of the garage – was cleared at court of allowing his unusual pet to run loose at Benston Service Station, in Beith Road, Johnstone.

It was claimed that, in February 1975, on the garage forecourt, he did “suffer to be at large, a dangerous animal, namely a lion, without its being secured by a rope or other means,” contrary to an 83-year-old Act.

It was believed to be the first time a lion had figured in such a charge, while the case was described by the defence agent as one of the most unusual he had ever been involved in.

Although seven-month-old Leo didn’t appear in court, throughout the trial he sat in the back of Mr Gillespie’s car – outside the court building.

James Laverty, of Birch Crescent, Johnstone, told the court of the day he had a dispute with staff at the station over his petrol – and of a brush with Leo.

He said he thought he was “seeing things” when he noticed a lion standing at the door of the garage office.

“I went to the farthest away petrol pump and asked for a gallon of petrol but the girl put a lot more in, ”said Mr Laverty.

He then explained he only had £2 on him and asked for the extra petrol to be siphoned from his tank.

The girl called for the mechanic, who said he wasn’t sure about siphoning petrol out.

Mr Laverty said: “He came back with another mechanic and a lion on a chain. It was snarling and I think it was snarling at me!”

He claimed Mr Gillespie let go of the chain and that the lion cub leapt up at him.

Mr Laverty said:“The lion jumped on me and ripped my backside.

“I told the fellow to get hold of the chain and it took him a while. “Maybe he was frightened. “Mr Gillespie asked when I could come back and pay the extra money.

“When I said I didn’t know, he said he would have to report it – and I said I would have to report his lion to the police.”

After being cleared, Mr Gillespie gave his lion a big hug outside court and said: “He is just a big, soft pet.”