Plea To Catch Car Thief Who Killed Pensioner

The son of a pensioner who died after he was run over by his own car has appealed for help in finding his father's killer.

James Simpson, 76, saw someone taking his Land Rover Discovery on Thursday evening in Ashgill, south Lanarkshire.

Mr Simpson, who was at home with his wife, went out to try and stop the thieves and was hit by the car.

Police believe whoever took it may have tried to break into the house first to get hold of the keys.

Mr Simpson's son Jamie Simpson, 39, said: "One day ago I saw my father lying on a cold table, blood on his face, and now I have to watch my mother suffer from flashbacks of what she witnessed that day, breaking into uncontrollable fits, and listen every day as my mother tells me she no longer wants to live any more.

"These individuals thought it was their right to break into my parents' home, take the car keys and steal the car and when my father ran to defend the property he worked hard for, these individuals also felt it was their right to run over my father, leaving my dad abandoned, dying on the kerb.

"Please, if there is any information you have that would help in this investigation, no matter how small or insignificant it may be, please come forward as soon as you can."

Detective Superintendent Robbie Allan, of Strathclyde Police, said: "I would appeal to anyone who was in the Ashgill area or Crossford area between 8pm and 9pm last night (Thursday) who saw anything suspicious or who saw this vehicle to come forward.

"This is an absolutely tragic event.

"This has been a theft of a motor vehicle which has escalated to such an extent a 76-year-old man has lost his life and I'm really appealing for anyone with any knowledge of the crime or who was in the area to come forward to the police."

The Discovery was later found intact around five miles away. Police said it would be of "critical" importance to their investigation and would be forensically examined.

They believe another vehicle may also have been involved in the incident and have appealed for information.