A shoplifter who tried to run down a security guard with his car after he was chased from an Aberdeen store has been warned he faces jail.
Alan Bruce was pursued out of the shop by Adrian Morley after he was spotted stealing three designer handbags from TK Maxx.
And when Mr Morley stood in front of Bruce’s car to stop him driving off, the 44-year-old accelerated forward and knocked him to the ground.
Bruce then sped off, leaving Mr Morley lying in the car park of the Kittybrewster retail park.
Bruce appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted assaulting the security guard with his red Fiat 500 on December 19.
He also admitted stealing the bags – worth £210 – and leaving the scene without stopping to report an accident.
Fiscal depute Anne Macdonald said Mr Morley saw Bruce leave the store and decided to follow him outside.
She said: “The accused got into a car and Mr Morley sat with his hand on the bonnet of the car trying to indicate that he wanted to speak to him.
“The accused made eye contact, shook his head and he (Mr Morley) realised he was not going to get out the car.”
She said Mr Morley tried to back away when he realised Bruce was going to drive off, however the repeat offender struck him with his car, throwing him across the bonnet.
Miss MacDonald said Mr Morley was left with superficial injuries and the hand bags had not been recovered.
The court heard that the following day police spotted Bruce driving the wrong way down a one way street and tried to pull him over.
However, when Bruce saw the police activate their blue lights he put his foot down and led officers on a car chase around the King Street area of the city.
Miss MacDonald said that as Bruce, of Tay Road, Aberdeen, was driving at excessive speeds for the built-up area the officers decided to stop following him and he escaped.
He was later caught by police carrying out a drugs warrant.
Bruce admitted driving dangerously and failing to stop for police on December 20 when he appeared in court yesterday.
The court heard Bruce was a serial offender with a history of heroin misuse.
His agent, solicitor Shane Campbell, said that on the day of the offences he had slipped back into his drug addiction but said he was now stable on a methadone prescription.
Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence on Bruce for background reports but warned him that because of his record and the serious nature of the charges it was likely he would be jailed.