A STOCK car racer who narrowly missed colliding with two pedestrians as he sped through a red light near Kelty Primary School while being followed by a police car was jailed yesterday.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Paul Barron (23) was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for four years.

Barron admitted driving dangerously on Cocklaw Street and other roads in Kelty, as well as on the B996 Kelty to Kinross road last March.

He drove at excessive speed, failed to observe stop or give way signs and repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road in the face of oncoming traffic—all while failing to stop for the police.

He also admitted two further charges of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Depute fiscal Louise Ward said police officers spotted the Ford Transit van being driven by Barron at about 12.40pm, as it approached Cocklaw Street.

She said, “It was decided to stop the vehicle.

“The police sirens were activated, as were the blue flashing lights—however the Ford Transit motor vehicle accelerated away from the police.

“The police contacted the control room and informed them they had a vehicle which had failed to stop.”

Barron then drove the vehicle onto Blair Street.

Miss Ward continued, “Police witnesses saw that the transit failed to slow or give way at the give way junction with Union Street.”

The junction was obscured by hedgerows and parked vehicles, and when police reached it they had to slow down to check the way ahead was clear.

Miss Ward said, “The transit motor vehicle continued, turning left from Blair Street onto North Drum Street and south to Mossgreen Street—again not slowing for other road users or junctions.

She said that the vehicle being driven by Barron accelerated towards the pedestrian crossing at the school.

“At this time, the pedestrian crossing was at red and police witnesses saw the transit move onto the wrong side of the road to pass vehicles which were stationary, narrowly missing two pedestrians who were using the crossing,” she said.

“The Transit continued to accelerate, and was now seen to be travelling at around 50mph in a 30mph restriction zone.”

Miss Ward said the officers in the police car had to reach speeds approximately 70 miles per hour in order to keep up with Barron.

She continued, “He crossed onto the opposing carriageway as he approached a sharp left bend.

“As police approached, they noticed that the driver of the transit would have had little or no visibility of oncoming traffic.”

Barron was finally stopped in Kinross, where he was arrested and taken to Dunfermline police station.

Barron’s solicitor Ian Beatson said his client was obsessed with motor vehicles, and that he took part in off-road stock car racing.

Sheriff Dunbar told Barron, who had four convictions for driving while disqualified, that he was taking a risk every time he got behind the wheel while banned.

He added, “I have taken into account also the appalling piece of driving in a built up area, which created a particular risk for others, particularly the people using the pedestrian crossing.”