A young driver blasted through Montrose at twice the speed limit after panicking when he was spotted by police behind the wheel just a fortnight after being banned.
Pursuing officers hit 60 miles an hour along town streets but still couldn’t close the gap on William Heron and he was able to make a getaway.
However, the 21-year-old was soon tracked down and held his hands up by admitting he had been at the controls of the speeding BMW.
Heron received a combination sentence of unpaid work, a driving ban and fine when he appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court in relation to the September 13 offence.
He admitted driving carelessly and at excessive speeds, while disqualified and without insurance.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said police saw the accused washing a car on the forecourt of Guthrie Brothers around 9.45pm and knew Heron was a banned driver.
The officers parked their vehicle then saw him drive past them in the opposite direction.
Heron was spotted on Traill Drive and immediately sped away.
“Police accelerated up to speeds of 60 miles per hour, but the BMW was furthering the gap,” the fiscal added.
Heron disappeared out of sight, but police received a tip-off that he had gone to a lock up in the Craigo area and around 10.30pm he was found travelling in a friend’s vehicle.
He was asked to identify the driver of the BMW and replied: “It was me”.
Defence solicitor Angela McLardy said Heron had been helping his girlfriend’s father with repairs to the car.
“It’s very clear it was a stupid decision to take the vehicle to be washed,” sh
“He panicked and was trying to get away.”
Sheriff Derek Reekie said: “It is unfortunate that his strong work ethic involves cars and there is a temptation before him every day, which he seemed to succumb to on this occasion.”
However, he told Heron:
“You are only 21, you are not a kid any more.
“These are serious offences – you drove whilst disqualified within a matter of weeks of being disqualified.
“It was a stupid decision which you carried through, and then engages you in a pursuit through residential areas at those speeds.
“I do have a custodial option, but given your age and the steps you are trying to take towards a more pro-social life, I am prepared to draw back from that,” said the sheriff.
Heron, of Traill Terrace, Montrose was ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work under a year-long community payback order. He was also fined £500 and banned from driving for a year.
