A TEENAGE motorist led police on a high-speed chase through Perth, which was ended by a “stinger” nearly 60 miles north in the Highlands, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Traffic police on the A9 had to throw the spiked device on to the road to apprehend 19-year-old John Sutherland from Forres who had previously outrun them in the Fair City and further south on the Perth to Inverness road at speeds up to 100mph.

Sutherland was sentenced to three months and seven days in detention and was banned from driving for three years by Sheriff Michael Fletcher.

He admitted that on June 29 on High Street, North Methven Street, Atholl Street, Barrack Street, Dunkeld Road, A85 Perth, Perth A912 and Perth to Inverness A9 he drove dangerously, failed to comply with a no entry sign, repeatedly failed to comply with red lights, drove at excessive speed in a built-up area, drove in an anti-clockwise direction on a roundabout on to opposing traffic, continued to drive at excessive speed along the A9 and overtook other vehicles on blind bends.

He also admitted possessing cannabis.

Depute Fiscal Therese Oswald told the court that at around 3.30am police officers on patrol in Perth saw Sutherland’s Nissan car driving down a road which had a No Entry sign.

They activated their blue lights but he failed to stop and accelerated away.

He drove through red lights and was said to be driving at around 70mph on the 30mph Dunkeld Road before negotiating a roundabout against the traffic flow in an anti-clockwise direction.

A police unit took up position on the A9 at Pitlochry but he “gained speed and evaded capture,” Mrs Oswald said.

Officers were authorised to deploy the “stinger” device which was put across both lanes of the road at Dalwhinnie.

Sutherland had no previous convictions, but on sentencing him, Sheriff Fletcher said, “This is the kind of driving that causes tragedy after tragedy.

“It was an episode that went on for a considerable period and caused serious danger on the A9 and in Perth.

“I’m driven to the conclusion that the only way to deal with this is by a period of detention.”