Inverness banned driver mowed down cyclist
A banned driver was caught on CCTV deliberately mowing down a cyclist.
Ross Grant ploughed into Benjamin Drummond in broad daylight in Greig Street in Inverness on August 24 last year.
The victim luckily escaped being badly hurt following the incident.
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Grant, of Inverness, went on to later force a couple to narrowly dodge being hit after he drove at them in a separate attack thought to be linked.
The 29 year-old - via his lawyer Shahid Latif - pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Drummond to his injury and danger of life.
He also admitted to a number of road-traffic related offences at the High Court in Glasgow.
Grant was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in October.
Prosecutor Ali Murray told how Grant was serving a road ban at the time having been disqualified for driving while under the influence of cocaine.
He was also subject to a number of bail orders.
In the lead-up to hitting the cyclist, Grant had been clocked driving dangerously in a Vauxhall Combo van.
This included going at speed and on the wrong side of the road as well failing to stop at traffic lights.
At around 8.45am on the day of the incident, Mr Drummond was on his Carrera bike when Grant pulled up behind him.
They then each moved off.
Mr Murray said: "The van accelerated and swerved into the back of the bike causing a collision."
CCTV footage from a nearby B&B captured the attack. The footage was played in court.
Mr Murray said: "Mr Drummond fell off his bike and struck the bonnet.
"He rolled off and fell onto the road. The van accelerated away as Mr Drummond lay on the ground."
The victim hobbled to his feet and luckily only suffered a scraped knee.
Grant continued his crazy driving in Inverness that morning - doing handbrake turns and mounting the pavement.
He went on to spot Darren Jamieson and Leanne Stewart.
Grant yelled at them: "You are getting the same as your Uncle Benny."
He repeatedly tried to mount the kerb to get at them.
He continued to drive at the pair with Miss Stewart describing "feeling the wind" as the van almost struck them.
Among the other charges Grant pleaded guilty to was assaulting Mr Jamieson and Miss Stewart causing them to take evasive action to avoid being struck.
Mr Latif said: "There have been a series of life events that put him on a journey that has led him to appearing here in court.
"He has a schedule of previous convictions perhaps redolent of someone who was a nuisance more than anything."
Lord Clark remanded him in custody pending sentencing on October 8 in Edinburgh.
