A FATHER and son from Kelty attacked a woman with a van in a life threatening assault.

Elizabeth McGregor was forced to crawl under a caravan moments after being struck by a vehicle at Crook of Devon on October 8, 2019.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard on Monday how she then tried to escape from the scene in her car when a van rammed into the passenger door.

Mrs McGregor managed to get away and drove herself to Perth Royal Infirmary’s A&E for treatment.

The police managed to track down her assailants – 23-year-old van driver Hugh McPhee Jnr and his dad Hugh Senior, 57 – and brought them to justice.

McPhee Jnr, now of Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, and McPhee Senior, of Kelty, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mrs McGregor to the danger of her life.

The pair admitted to driving a van at her, striking her with it before colliding with her car.

Describing the assault, Ms Maguire told the court: “She could hear that the sound of the van’s engine was revving excessively. Elizabeth McGregor saw the van move forward and felt it strike her hip and leg on the left side of her body.

“As a result of the impact, her left elbow made contact with the bonnet of the van. Following the impact, the van stopped suddenly. This caused Elizabeth McGregor to slide off the front of the van and hit the ground.

“She managed to get back to her feet and position herself behind her caravan. She saw the van reverse.

“The van moved forward once again. To avoid being struck again, Elizabeth McGregor dropped to the ground and crawled under the rear of her touring caravan.

“She managed to make her way from under her caravan to her car. On getting inside and starting the engine, she felt an impact, as the van driven by the accused Hugh McPhee Junior struck the nearside passenger door of her vehicle, a black coloured Mercedes C200 motor car with the front of the van.

“Elizabeth McGregor managed to drive away. She made her way to Perth Royal Infirmary’s accident and emergency department.”

Ms McGuire said there had been an argument between Mrs McGregor and McPhee senior.

The pair were staying at a site for the travelling community in Crook of Devon and fell out over McPhee’s decision to place a caravan close to her site.

She believed that McPhee didn’t have any right to place a caravan at the spot.

Judge Lord Beckett heard how at 10pm on October 8, 2019, Mrs McGregor was about to leave the site to attend a family funeral when she saw the McPhee's.

Ms Maguire added: “Both accused were screaming ‘whore’ and ‘prostitute’."

At Perth Royal Infirmary, Mrs McGregor told doctors she had been struck by a van and, after treatment, she was later released from hospital.

Police traced the men and took them into custody. Officers gathered enough evidence to prove their guilt.

Their lawyers asked Lord Beckett to continue bail for their clients but he refused.

Sentence was deferred for reports and he added: “The high likelihood is that a prison sentence will be passed in these cases so I am not prepared to grant bail.

“You will be remanded in custody.”

The pair will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on November 4.