Road-rage gangster's appeal fails

A GANGSTER who killed a driver by ramming his van in a road-rage incident has failed in an attempt to cut his 12-year jail sentence.

Appeal judges threw out Paul Lyons's claim that the punishment was too severe, telling him his crime was "utterly appalling".

Lyons, 29, a member of a notorious Glasgow crime clan, had admitted culpable homicide, fleeing to Spain to avoid prosecution, and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was high on drink and drugs when he forced father-of-two Mark Fleeman, 32, off the M74 near Larkhall, Lanarkshire. Passenger Lee Allsup, 17, was scarred for life.

At the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh, defence advocate Chris Shead said the 12-year sentence did not give Lyons enough credit for pleading guilty and so avoiding a trial.

But Lord Reed told Lyons: "You have been convicted of a crime which can only be described as utterly appalling."

Lyons will also remain under supervision for three years after the end of his prison sentence.