Police were forced to pull out of an Angus car chase involving a “panicked” driver on safety grounds after he hit 100 miles per hour on back roads near Arbroath.
Samuel Wilson, 25, had led officers through crowded residential streets at almost twice the 30 mph limit after he put the foot down when he realised he was about to be pulled over for having no insurance.
At Forfar sheriff court, Wilson, of Kinloch Square in Carnoustie was fined £1,300 and disqualified for two years after admitting driving dangerously and at grossly excessive speed on March 2 last year, and without insurance on roads in and around Arbroath.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Thompson said police spotted Wilson’s black Vauxhall Vectra leaving the forecourt of the Cairnie Road filling station around 6pm.
They followed him with the intention of checking the vehicle details, but before that could be done Wilson made a quick u-turn in a nearby pub car park and sped off.
“Police activated their blue lights and tried to follow him, but his speed increased to around 50 miles per hour along Condor Drive, which is particularly narrow because of parked cars,” added Ms Thompson.
The accused then headed westwards out of Arbroath towards Arbirlot and the court was told officers estimated the Vauxhall to be travelling at the ton before Wilson completed two “extremely dangerous” overtaking manoeuvres on the approach to a blind crest and a hidden junction.
“Police aborted their pursuit due to the very dangerous manner in which the accused was driving his vehicle,” said the fiscal.
Half an hour later Wilson was traced at his home, where he admitted being the driver at the time, telling police that he just panicked because he didn’t have insurance.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “This is a terrible piece of driving.
“In fairness to him speeds of 50 and 100 are peaks, it is not suggested he was consistently driving at those speeds throughout.
“The explanation makes it all the more stupid, it is difficult to comprehend and the social work report shows an insight into that.
“His life otherwise has not been particularly troublesome to the courts or society and he has held down a good job for a number of years.”
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio told Wilson: “I’m at a loss to understand why you should have behaved in this way.”
Wilson must also sit an extended driving test at the end of his ban.