Aberdeen driver knocked cyclist off bike in row

A DRIVER who injured his daughter’s ex-boyfriend by knocking him off his bike with a van in an Aberdeen street has avoided jail.

An Aberdeen Sheriff said Hugh MacNeil had used his van as a “weapon” against the victim – who was thrown against a wall breaking his leg in two places.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard MacNeil, 45, assaulted and endangered the life of Mark Lamont on Aberdeen’s Don Street when he hit him with his work’s van.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told there had been a “dispute” brewing between the pair because Mr Lamont had once been in a relationship with MacNeil’s daughter.

Fiscal depute Karen Dow said MacNeil drove alongside the cyclist and forced him off the Aberdeen road, causing him to fall off the bike and collide with a wall.

She added Aberdeen man MacNeil continued to argue with Mr Lamont, who was lying injured on the ground, before driving off.

Defence agent John McLoone said MacNeil had been under stress from working long hours for a scaffolding firm when he committed the offence on July 29, 2008 in Aberdeen.

MacNeil, whose address was listed in court papers as 159 Lang Stracht, Aberdeen, previously admitted the offence.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court Sheriff Kieran McLernan ordered MacNeil to carry out 180 hours of community service.

Sheriff Kieran McLernan said: “It would appear that this is the result of a lapse of self control. You were effectively using your vehicle as a weapon and that is a very serious matter.”