Man went home to sleep after life-threatening attack on victim whose van he stole

A man responsible for a life-threatening assault on the motorist whose van he stole went home to sleep after leaving his victim in a pool of blood.

Lee Mullen, 31, was seen jumping on his victim’s head with his two feet during a horrifying assault on the street at Davie Park, Rattray on June 19, 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh on Friday heard how Mullen stole the man’s Transit van earlier in the evening.

Judge John Morris KC heard that the victim, a painter and decorator, managed to find the vehicle and discovered Mullen at the wheel.

He confronted the thief, who then subjected the complainer to an attack witnessed by horrified householders.

Witnesses told police that they saw Mullen repeatedly punch the man on the head which caused him to fall to the ground.

They then saw Mullen repeatedly stamp on his stricken victim before continuing to punch and kick him as he attempted to stand up.

Mullen, a prisoner of HMP Perth, fled the scene and returned to his girlfriend’s home, where police tracked him down.

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie told the court of the moment officers arrested the accused in the early hours of June 19, 2023.

Mr McKenzie said: “After forcing entry, he was found asleep. At approximately 2.40am he was arrested.

“Whilst leading him away to a police vehicle, the accused yelled to his partner ‘Bye that’s me f***ed. That’s me away for life’.”

The story emerged after Mullen pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, vehicle theft, driving carelessly and failing to notify the authorities that he was responsible for an accident.

He also admitted to driving without insurance and driving without a licence.

Mr McKenzie told the court that the evening began with the victim, who is self-employed, parking his vehicle outside the Angus Hotel in Blairgowrie, Perthshire.

He spent the evening watching Scotland beat Norway 2-1 in a Euro 2024 qualifier and went to enjoy a meal.

Meanwhile, Mullen broke into the van and drove away. Upon moving away, Mullen struck the front of a Ford Ranger, damaging its bumper. He did not stop and continued to move away.

The man then discovered that his vehicle had been stolen and found it parked up in nearby Rattray.

Upon confronting Mullen, the man was knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked by the accused.

Mr McKenzie said several locals witnessed the attack and saw the level of violence used by Mullen during the assault.

He added: “A witness looked out his bedroom window and saw the complainer on the ground with the accused repeatedly jumping on his head with his two feet.

“He also described the accused kicking the victim to the head and face.

“He left the property to help Mr Milton and described a pool of blood forming on the ground around his head.”

The court heard that the victim was unconscious for around five minutes. He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee for emergency treatment – medics kept him there for nine days.

Mr McKenzie told the court that the victim had lost several months worth of income following the attack.

He was also given brain scans by concerned doctors in the months following the assault and is still continuing to recover from his injuries.

Judge Morris deferred sentence for the court to obtain a report on Mullen’s background.

The case will next call at the High Court in Edinburgh on November 21, 2024.