A MAN has been cleared of hitting a man with a car following an argument over dropped rubbish.

Andrew Gemmel, 22, was alleged to have struck Graham McGuire, 39, at a KFC car park in Glasgow's Springburn on March 27, 2022.

The lorry driver told Glasgow Sheriff Court that he confronted the passenger of a Volkswagen car after watching him drop rubbish on the ground.

He said: "I said 'are you going to pick that up' because my window was down.

"There was back and forth and a couple of words were said."

Mr McGuire stated that he left his car and picked up the rubbish before approaching the Volkswagen.

Prosecutor Carrie Stevens asked Mr McGuire if he threw the rubbish back into the car.

He replied: "I went to put it on the dashboard and he put his hand up and it went everywhere."

Mr McGuire claimed that the Volkswagen initially headed towards the exit of the car park before doing a three-point turn and went back towards him.

He said: "He came towards me and he hit the brakes and I jumped and hit the bonnet at the same time."

Miss Stevens: "Why did you jump?"

Mr McGuire: "If I didn't, he would have hit my legs and knocked me down."

The court heard that Mr McGuire was unable to identify the driver when asked by police or at court today.

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Gemmel was acquitted after Miss Stevens dropped the assault charge and dangerous driving alternative allegation against him.

However, the dad-of-two from Barmulloch did plead guilty to two separate charges of dangerous driving and assaulting a McDonald's employee.

The court heard that Gemmel drove at excessive speed and undertook a car causing it to brake on February 22, 2021.

Miss Stevens said: "He said [to police] that he was in a rush to get home as his girlfriend said his young daughter was ill."

He then went on to throw a cup of juice at an employee at the drive-thru of a McDonald's in Robroyston on March 1, 2022.

Gemmel had been told that he was banned from the restaurant before launching the missile but did not make contact.

The hearing was finally told that Gemmel was found to be driving with a damaged car on March 9, 2021.

Police pursued Gemmel who travelled at 70 miles per hour and went over road markings.

Miss Stevens said: "He told police the damage to his vehicle was due to someone striking it with an axe."

It was revealed that Gemmel has a previous conviction for dangerous driving.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Paul Reid who remanded Gemmel in custody meantime.