A Dundee man who led police on a high-speed car chase before smashing into the side of a house just yards from a primary school has been jailed for 14 months.
Steven Shepherd, 26, who raced through numerous residential Dundee street at speeds of up to 70mph, was told by a sheriff that he was lucky his “ludicrous and highly dangerous driving” had not resulted in serious injury.
Dundee Sheriff Court was shown CCTV footage of the four-minute car chase from September last year.
The court heard Shepherd, who was disqualified from driving at the time, had previous motoring convictions.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court that police carrying out vehicle checks had recognised Shepherd as a disqualified driver and had started to pursue him.
She said: “What resulted could be described as a pursuit or chase through residential streets. The chase ended after four minutes when the accused lost control of the vehicle and collided with a house in Ancrum Road.”
The court was told that witnesses initially thought that Shepherd was dead but he was actually treated at Ninewells hospital and later released.
Shepherd, of Spey Drive, had previously admitted driving dangerously and at excessive speeds on numerous roads in Dundee while disqualified on September 5 last year.
Kevin Hampton defending said: “It is unexplained why he drove in this manner. He simply panicked when he was spotted by the police officer. He is under no illusion a custodial sentence is very likely.”
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan told Shepherd: “Any doubts I had about an appropriate disposal were dispersed after seeing the CCTV. This was a ludicrous and highly dangerous piece of driving. You were very lucky not to suffer severe injury.”
Shepherd was also banned from driving for three and a half years.
For more on this story see Thursday’s Courier or try our digital edition.