Man tried to murder wife by driving over her twice

An abusive husband tried to murder his estranged wife by driving his car over her twice, claiming she had "embarrassed" him by leaving.

William Budge, 62, drove his car directly at his wife Sandra in Edinburgh last April - then turned the car around and ran over her again as she lay on the ground.

She suffered broken bones and internal organ damage but survived the attack which took place at Muirhouse Parkway.

Budge admitted a charge of attempted murder when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh, as well as other abuse and assault charges dating back several years. He will be sentenced at a later date.

The court heard how the couple had been married for 33 years and had two, now grown-up, children together.

In March last year she decided to leave him and moved into a flat in Muirhouse Parkway.

On the day of the attack, Mrs Budge had parked her car at a parking space near the flat when her husband pulled up behind her vehicle and tried to speak to her.

Advocate depute Leanne McQuillan said: "She got out of her car and the accused took hold of her and tried to force her into his car.

"He also tried to take her mobile telephone from her."

A relative of the victim arrived and began shouting at Budge but he responded by saying his wife had "embarrassed" him.

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 tried to help Mrs Budge who was lying motionless after she was struck the first time.

However, they had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit when Budge returned.

Police and paramedics arrived on the scene after Budge had driven off.

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.

She stayed there until 12 June when she was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation.

Police later found Budge's vehicle at a car park at an Asda store in Dunfermline, Fife.

The following day, officers in Glasgow were alerted to a man in the River Clyde.

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

As well as attempted murder, the first offender admitted assaulting his spouse to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment and to the danger of her life.

He further admitted assaulting the victim on a previous occasion between April 2016 and April 2017 when he put his hands around her throat.

Budge also pled guilty to abusive behaviour towards her between April 2019 and April 2024 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.

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

Defence counsel Mark Stewart KC, representing 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".

He deferred sentence for the preparation of a background report.