Man to be sentenced for repeatedly running over wife in Muirhouse after she left him

A man who tried to kill his estranged wife by running her over in Edinburgh will be sentenced on Wednesday for attempted murder and a catalogue of domestic abuse.

William Budge drove his vehicle straight at his spouse in the Muirhouse area of the city – colliding with her and then returning to drive over the victim again.

Last month, the 62-year-old admitted assaulting the woman on April 14, 2024, to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment, and to the danger of her life and attempting to murder her.

During the attack, he seized her by the body, tried to take her mobile phone and repeatedly attempted to force her into his car before driving directly at her, striking her, knocking her to the ground and driving over her.

He drove away but returned to where she lay on the ground and drove the car over her again during the murder bid at Muirhouse Parkway.

Budge also pled guilty to assaulting the victim on a previous occasion between April 2016 and April 2017 when he put his hands around her throat.

He also admitted pursuing a course of abusive behaviour towards her between April 2019 and April last year when he shouted and swore at her, called her names, prodded her on the head with his fingers, pushed her onto a bed and subjected her to excessive text messages and calls.

Advocate depute Leanne McQuillan told the court that in March last year, the victim left Budge and moved into a flat.

The prosecutor said they were married for around 33 years and have two adult children together.

On the day of the attempted murder, she parked her car in a space near her flat but found that Budge pulled up behind her vehicle and tried to speak to her.

“She got out of her car, and the accused took hold of her and tried to force her into his car,” the prosecutor said.

“He also tried to take her mobile telephone from her.”

A relative of the victim arrived and began shouting at Budge, who said: “She’s f—ing embarrassed me.”

The prosecutor said: “The accused then got back into his car and drove it onto the grass verge, straight at the complainer.

“It collided with her, the accused continued driving and she was lifted onto the bonnet before falling off onto the grass.”

“The offside wheels of the car drove over the complainer and the accused continued to drive over the grass and onto the main road. The accused turned his car on the main road and drove back onto the grass and over the complainer again.”

The relative went to the aid of the victim, who was lying motionless after she was struck the first time and had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit when Budge returned.

Budge drove off, and police and paramedics attended. The unconscious victim was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she was found to have suffered damage to her lungs and liver, internal bleeding, rib and ankle fractures and other injuries.

The victim remained at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary until June 12, when she was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation.

Police attempted to trace Budge and found his car in a car park at an Asda store in Dunfermline, Fife.

On the day after the attempted murder, officers in Glasgow were alerted to a man in the River Clyde.

Budge was rescued from the water and taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where he was arrested after being deemed fit for hospital release.

Footage of the attack on the victim was shown to the court while Budge followed proceedings via a TV link to prison.

Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC, for Budge, said: “He deeply and bitterly regrets his actions, the injury he has caused and the consequences for his former wife and for all the people who have been affected by what has happened here.”

The judge, Lord Lake, told Budge that he had pled guilty to “an extremely serious offence”.