A man who viciously attacked his girlfriend before driving off at 50mph with her clinging to the bonnet of his BMW has been told he faces a lengthy jail term.
Ryan McEwan left Cheryl Walker lying motionless in the middle of Dundee’s Arklay Street and sped off – only to return as passersby gave her first aid, shouting: “you deserve it”.
He was caught on CCTV trying to haul Miss Walker from the car before repeatedly punching her on the head.
A resident in a nearby flat pleaded with him to stop but he replied: “She’s not getting out of the car – what am I supposed to do?”
He then sped off with her on the bonnet, with witnesses describing her screaming and his wheels spinning and tyres smoking.
A sheriff told McEwan he would face a “significant jail sentence” when he returns to court next month.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court McEwan, who has previous convictions for abusing Miss Walker, had been at a meal with her and his father earlier that evening.
She said: “An argument ensued as they drove away as she wanted to go home and he wanted to go to a friend’s house.
“He got out of the car with her handbag and kicked it down the street and she then locked herself in the car.
“He was then able to get back in and grabbed her repeatedly by the hair and tried to pull her out before repeatedly punching her on the head.
“She then got out and went on his bonnet trying to break the windscreen wipers.
“He got back in the car and reversed at speed while she screamed for help.
“He drove off at speed, estimated to be between 40 and 50mph and braked, with smoke seen coming from his brakes before continuing to drive at speed.
“She remained on the bonnet throughout but was able to throw herself off the bonnet into the roadway.
“She was screaming in pain as he drove away.”
Miss Walker was rushed to hospital by ambulance but miraculously suffered no serious injuries.
McEwan, 25, a prisoner at Perth, pleaded guilty to assaulting Cheryl Walker and a charge of culpable and reckless conduct to the danger of her life committed on July 22 on Arklay Street, Dundee.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC deferred sentence until January for social work background reports and remanded McEwan in custody in the meantime.
