Court hears gang clan member killed van driver after ramming him off motorway

A member of the infamous Lyons crime clan killed a van driver who gestured to him about his driving, a court heard today.

• Paul Lyons (left) and Mark Fleeman (right)

Paul Lyons, 28, pled guilty to the culpable homicide of father-of-two Mark Fleeman and attempting to defeat the ends of justice at the High Court in Glasgow.

The court heard how Lyons had been drinking beer and wine and taking valium while driving back from a night out in Manchester before ramming Mr Fleeman, 32, off the M74 in Lanarkshire.

Mr Fleeman, 32, from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, died when his van was spun across the motorway at near Larkhall.

His passenger, 17-year-old student Lee Allsup, also from Uttoxeter, was seriously injured in the crash.

Advocate depute Iain McSporran said Mr Fleeman had initially gestured at Lyons because of his erratic driving.

He said: "It appears that the accused's response to this gesture is what led to Mr Fleeman's death."

Lyons, a well-known figure in the Glasgow underworld, fled to Spain after the killing in a bid to escape justice.

He was extradited back to Scotland after being arrested by Spanish police.

Sentencing will take place on April 1.