Break-up man in horror drive

Dumped driver sped towards van

A man who terrified his partner when he drove their car at speed towards a parked van has avoided jail.

But Jordan Murdoch must stay away from the woman for two years after being served with a non-harassment order.

The victim claimed Murdoch said he would “end her life” after she had broken off their relationship.

She told Hamilton Sheriff Court that she managed to grab the steering wheel and directed Murdoch’s Vauxhall Astra away from the vehicle ahead.

Murdoch, 25, of Kenmar Road, Hamilton, was found guilty of driving dangerously in Union Street, New

Stevenston, and nearby Loanhead Road on January 28.

The charge stated that he drove at speed when the front passenger door was open, grappled with the woman, failed to keep proper observations and drove at speed towards a parked van.

The jury cleared him of abducting and assaulting her.

She told Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, she agreed to go outside to see Murdoch late at night after he begged to talk to her.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, the victim said: “I got in the car but didn’t close the passenger door as I didn’t want to be shut in there with him.

“Then he drove up the street at 50 miles an hour.

“He was trying to drive into the back of a van.

“He said he was going to ram the van and told me ‘I’ll end your life just now.’

“I panicked and grabbed the steering wheel and we drove past the van.

“He stopped the car in Loanhead Road. I got out and ran into a park in the Brannock Gate housing estate where I hid in a bush.

“Jordan was driving about, looking for me. I heard him shouting ‘I know where you are’ and I curled up in a ball and just cried.”

As well as being given a nonharassment order, Murdoch was put under supervision for two years and banned from driving for 15 months.

He was also ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid community work.