A THUG who drove a Glasgow Housing Association van at a man who shouted “your houses are rubbish” has been spared jail.

Darren Clark, 24, was captured on camera driving the vehicle at Lewis McGhee which saw him hit the bonnet and land on the ground.

Clark - who had his dad James in the van - then drove off from the scene at Carrbridge Drive, Maryhill, in December 2017.

Mr McGhee was taken to hospital, but refused treatment - although returned when he was unwell and kept in for a few days.

Clark, from Knightswood, was traced back to the van captured on footage that was later given to the police.

He was initially charged with attempting to murder Mr McGhee but the charge was reduced.

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr McGhee on December 2, 2017 to the danger of his life.

Today, sheriff Daniel Scullion told Clark: “I am perfectly satisfied custody is plainly an appropriate disposal.”

He said “in all the circumstances” he was persuaded to give him a community payback order as an alternative, and acknowledged it was accepted by the court that Clark intervened when he saw his dad in an altercation.

The sheriff ordered that Clark is supervised for 12 months, and he must carry out 250 hours of unpaid work and pay the victim £500 compensation.

He was also disqualified from driving for six months.

Clark’s dad, James, 50, was also charged with the assault but his not guilty plea was accepted by prosecutors.

Footage of the shocking incident emerged online and circulated round social media.