Man left with broken neck after van driven at him, jury hears

Victim says he lost his home and business following incident in Kirkcaldy

A Kirkcaldy man told a court he was deliberately struck by a van in an incident outside his home that he claims left him with a broken neck.

Blair Matthews said Scott Brennan came into his street and threatened him before reversing his van at top speed into him.

Mr Matthews said he remains in constant pain from his injuries and has lost his home and business as a result of not being able to work.

On trial before a jury at Dunfermline Sheriff Court is Brennan, 33, of Wallsgreen Gardens, Cardenden.

He denies that on September 27 at Oliphant Way, Kirkcaldy, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by threatening to set fire to the home of Blair Matthews, threatening to run him over and threatening to kill him.

He also denies that on the same day he assaulted Mr Matthews by driving a motor van at him, striking him with the vehicle whereby he was knocked to the ground, all to his severe injury.

Mr Matthews, 39, told the court he now lives at another address in Kirkcaldy.

He said the incident happened at around 9.30am on a Sunday and that there had been “issues” between him and the accused for the previous three years.

He was in his home when he heard loud revving from a van and when he looked out of the window he saw it was Brennan’s vehicle.

The witness said he went outside and asked Brennan if there was a problem.

He claimed the response from Brennan was: “I’m going to kill you.”

Mr Matthews said he felt “frightened and alarmed”.

He said he saw Brennan moving to grab something from the passenger seat. He then punched Brennan in the face and kicked off a wing mirror.

He went on: “The van drove off at speed, travelled 100 metres and stopped suddenly. It reversed back as fast as a Transit van could go in reverse.”

The witness said the van kept coming towards him.

“I thought it was going to stop but then it hit me,” he added.

The witness said as a result of the collision, he had sustained a broken bone his neck and had to wear a collar for 24 weeks.

Mr Matthews said his construction groundworks business no longer exists because he was unable to work and this also resulted in him being evicted because he could not afford the rent.

The trial continues.

The van drove off at speed, travelled 100 metres and stopped suddenly. It reversed back as fast as a Transit van could go inreverse. BLAIR MATTHEWS