A MAN who ran a former friend over with a 4x4 jeep ­before giving him a savage beating has been warned to ­expect a lengthy jail sentence.

Callous James Brown, 57, struck Samuel Smith, 50, with the Toyota vehicle in Broomknowes Road, Glasgow, before assaulting him on July 6, 2013.

Brown, a prisoner at Barlinnie, was convicted of assaulting Mr Smith to his severe injury following a week long trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Brown, who has previous convictions for dishonesty and road traffic offences, originally faced a charge of attempted murder with a second man, Thomas McGovern.

But the jury returned a verdict of guilty to the lesser of charge of assault to severe injury.

Mr McGovern, 46, of Bilsland Drive, Glasgow, was acquitted of the attempted murder charge on the third day of the trial.

The court had earlier heard Mr Smith say that Brown drove the vehicle which hit him before he and two other unknown men got out of the motor and struck him on the back with a "bat or a cosh".

Mr Smith, whose address was given in court as being care of Police Scotland, then fell to the ground and two other individuals also started assaulting him.

The court also heard Mr Smith claim he reckoned Mr Brown thought he had "grassed him in for messing about with women".

He told the court Brown was a friend of his and that he knew him well.

Yesterday, following the verdict, judge Lord Stewart told Brown he was considering sending him to prison. But he deferred sentence until next month, so the court can obtain reports about Brown's character.

Brown will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on January 8.