A young man has admitted driving dangerously after leading police on a “low speed” chase around Aberdeen – at just 10mph.
Daniel Stewart crawled through the streets of Mastrick in a silver Citroen Saxo with officers in pursuit before he ploughed into one of their vehicles and fled.
Police had initially seen the 20-year-old’s car being driven extremely slowly in Springhill Road and noticed one of its tail lights was faulty.
They turned on their blue lights to try to get him to pull over but Stewart refused to stop and continued to dawdle down the road.
During the pursuit, which lasted several miles, the officers saw Stewart veer on to the wrong side of the road before mounting a grass verge and driving though Eric Hendrie Park.
It was only then, as he was negotiating his way through a wooded area, that he put his foot down and accelerated sharply through the trees, losing the police car as he sped off.
Stewart was eventually stopped when another patrol car overtook him in Provost Fraser Drive – where he had reverted to driving at just 10mph.
As the officers pulled in front of his Citroen he picked up speed and ploughed the hatchback into the side of their vehicle before he and his three passengers jumped out and ran.
Yesterday, the repeat offender appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted driving dangerously on March 10 this year, as well as failing to stop and report an accident and driving without insurance.
The court heard Stewart was initially spotted at around 10.30pm driving at “excessively slow speeds”.
Fiscal depute Cheryl Clark said: “Due to the slow speed the control room advised the officers that a pursuit could take place. The vehicle was being driven at around 10mph before it turned into Sheddocksley Road and continued at the same speed.
“Officers then followed him on to Lewis Road before turning back on to Sheddocksley Road and back onto Springhill Road, again at 10mph.
“He then made a sharp turn up on to the grassy area known as Eric Hendrie Park before accelerating heavily, driving in and out of trees.
“The police vehicle followed, but due to the fact that the speed was no longer at 10mph the pursuit ceased and the vehicle the accused was travelling in was lost to sight.”
Miss Clark said that the Saxo was later spotted by officers in another police car. She said it was travelling at extremely slow speeds.
She said the police driver tried to overtake Stewart when he suddenly hit the accelerator and careered into the side of the officers’ car, damaging both vehicles.
Miss Clark said that when Stewart, of 33 Byron Square, Aberdeen, was later questioned he said: “I was the driver. I am sticking my hands up to it.”
Sheriff Edward Savage deferred sentence on Stewart for background reports and disqualified him from driving in the mean time.
He will return to court next month.