Driver tried to kill nightclub doorman with van

Alan Adsley (38) drove the vehicle onto a pavement and struck Michael Harbison (46) who was among staff working outside Kitty's and the adjacent Sin venue in Kirkcaldy.

A prosecutor told jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh that they might think the victim was "a very lucky man" to escape without serious injury following the attack.

Advocate depute Richard Goddard QC pointed out that Mr Harbison was facing away from the direction that Adsley was driving at him when he was targeted.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/man-injured-hit-and-run-outside-kirkcaldy-nightclub-73174" title="READ MORE: Witness tells of moment van hit victim">READ MORE: Witness tells of moment van hit victim

He said that Adsley must have known that the victim was vulnerable because Mr Harbison was not in any position to see him driving the vehicle at him,

Mr Goddard told the jury at Adsley's trial that he had deliberately given the victim "no chance".

Mr Harbison said that when the vehicle hit him it forced his body up before he struck the pavement and added: "I was in the air".

Adsley, formerly of Craigearn Avenue, Kirkcaldy, had denied attempting to murder Mr Harbison on March 14 last year at Hunter Street by driving the works 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.

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

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

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

Adsley told the court that he had set out to scare the victim and did not intend to hurt anyone.

He said: "I made the biggest mistake. It was a scare tactic. I didn't at any point intend to hurt anyone."

"I am so sorry for what I have done. I know I hit him but I didn't mean to hit him," he said. He said that after the van attack he had panicked.

Adsley accepted he was under the influence of drink at the time of the attempted murder and told the court that he was drinking cider and vodka and downing shots before he and another man went to Kitty's that evening.

He said: "I was drunk, but I was stable on my feet. I could walk."

Bryce Adamson (53) who was working as a doorman, said they tried to get into the premises but in his view they had too much to drink and were refused entry.

He said threats were made to carry out a stabbing, rape a wife and blow up a house and during a confrontation Adsley was punched.

Adsley left the scene but minutes later a white van appeared and mounted the pavement and hit Mr Harbison.

The attempted murder attack was caught on CCTV and footage was shown to jurors during the trial.

Adsley was remanded in custody by Lady Scott at the end of the proceedings.