A teenager who was locked up for his part in stealing a haul of super cars from outside a millionaire’s mansion was back in the dock yesterday.
George Cowie was sentenced to nine months in detention last year after he and his two friends, Liam Smith and Blair Thomson, made off with sports cars and 4x4s from outside oil tycoon Sean Dreelan’s mansion.
And yesterday, the 18-year-old was back at Aberdeen Sheriff Court facing three new motoring offences which were carried out just weeks after he was released.
The teenager – who was banned from the roads for the super car theft – admitted driving dangerously and at excessive speeds towards a marked police car, causing the officer behind the wheel to swerve to avoid a crash.
Cowie then drove the blue Ford Mondeo through a set of red traffic lights and did not stop to give way at an oncoming roundabout. He also refused to stop when requested to by police.
The offence happened on January 26, on Granitehill Terrace, Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
The court heard that Cowie had been spotted behind the wheel and officers recognised him as being a disqualified driver.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow said the next day officers were carrying out investigations into the dangerous driving and spotted Cowie running away from them. He was later caught and charged.
Cowie, of 30 Provost Fraser Drive, Aberdeen, also admitted a further charge of reset by being in possession of a stolen motorcycle on January 28.
Solicitor David Sutherland asked the sheriff not to impose another period of detention. He said his client was keen to “refrain from further offending” and said he would like the opportunity to take part in the Venture Trust.
This is aimed at working with young offenders through an outdoors activity based rehabilitation programme.
Sheriff Edward Savage agreed to assess the teen to see if he would be suitable for the programme. He will return to court to be sentenced later this month.
Last year Cowie, Smith and Thomson scoped out Sean Dreelan’s mansion while planning the theft of his super cars.
Cowie broke into the property at Drumduan House, Banchory-Devenick, stealing the keys for an Aston Martin Rapide, a white
Porsche 911, a grey Audi A5 and a grey Toyota Land Cruiser while Thomson stood at the bottom of the driveway and acted as a lookout.
Then the teens drove away with the cars, worth almost half a million pounds, in the middle of the night.