Paul Lyons, 28, rammed 32-year-old Mark Fleeman's van on the M74 motorway near Larkhall in June last year.The High Court in Glasgow heard that Lyons was high on drink and drugs and banned from driving at the time.Mr Fleeman died after his van spun off the road and overturned. His 17-year-old passenger Lee Allsup was seriously injured. Both men were from Uttoxeter.The court heard that just seconds before the fatal incident Mr Fleeman made a desperate 999 call during which the operator could "hear sounds of a crash".Lyons, from Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, fled to Spain after the killing but was extradited back to Scotland after being arrested by Spanish policeThe 28-year-old, whose father runs a Glasgow garage which was at the centre of a triple shooting in 2006, was originally charged with murder or an alternative charge of causing death by reckless driving..
 | "Lyons then fled abroad, desperately attempting to avoid the consequences of his actions. |
"Working with our criminal justice partners and utilising all of the powers within the legislation available we were determined to ensure he did not do so."The court heard that shopfitter Mr Fleeman was driving from Derbyshire, to work in Dunfermline, along the M74 in the early hours of 4 June last year when Lyons repeatedly tried to crash his own van into him at a speed of more than 70mph.The vehicles eventually collided, with Mr Fleeman's overturning several times before landing at the side of the carriageway.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."The court was told that Lyons, who was driving home from a night out in Manchester with two friends, had been drinking beer and wine and took valium pills during the trip north.After the crash he sped off towards Gartcosh railway station where he and his friends were picked up by an associate.Later that morning, Lyons asked a panel beater friend to attend his garage premises. Lyons' van was never seen again.The court heard that one of his passengers, James Tulloch, was arrested days later on an unrelated matter.He told police he had been in Lyons' van, there had been "a road rage incident" and that "we rammed them".Mr McSporran told the court: "He fully implicated Lyons as the driver. He described his high speed, aggressive and erratic driving under the influence of drink and drugs."The advocate depute also told the court that Mr Allsup, who was seriously injured in the crash, used to be a "happy go lucky" person but had since contemplated suicide after spending seven weeks in various hospitals.In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Allsup said: "My best friend died. I can not begin to describe how that feels. I'm numb."I can't leave the house. I have panic attacks."Lawyers for Lyons said he accepted his conduct had been utterly irresponsible and stupid and he expressed remorse to his victims' families.Det Ch Inp Neil Thomson, who led the Strathclyde Police investigation, said: "The investigation into the circumstances was somewhat challenging and involved liaison with other police forces throughout the country and beyond."I would like to thank members of the public who supported officers throughout the inquiry."People were naturally outraged by the circumstances leading up to the death of Mark Fleeman. This was evident in the level of co-operation received."He added: "I sincerely hope that Mark's family can now put their ordeal behind them and move on with their lives."Lyons will return to court next month for sentencing.
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