A teenager who stole a car from a Glasgow garage and raced his pals to the north of Scotland escaped detention, despite a high speed chase by police through Inverness city centre.
David Gordon, who was 15 at the time and is now 17, drove at speeds of over 90mph, along the wrong side of the road in the face of oncoming traffic, through red lights and ignored traffic signs before crashing the car near Beauly on June 17, last year.
At Inverness Court yesterday, Sheriff Noel McPartlin told Gordon of 96 Glen Isla Street, Glasgow: “You were a great danger to the public for a prolonged period and over many miles.”
He imposed 200 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to custody, banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to remain under supervision of a social worker for 18 months.
Gordon admitted stealing the car, dangerous driving, and not having a licence or insurance.
The vehicle was reported stolen and police spotted it in Longman Road, Inverness travelling at speed, fiscal depute Kelly Mitchell told the court.
“The officers activated their blue lights to get it to stop, but it sped away and travelled through Inverness at high speed, through red lights and ignoring traffic signs.
“Police stopped following it because the driver was not pursuit trained and it was too dangerous. However the car was seen again about 5.45am by a trained pursuit driver as it approached Lovat Bridge outside Beauly.
“The vehicle was damaged and it moved on to the other side of the road and headed towards the police car which had to take evasive action.
“The car mounted the verge and damaged its side before taking off again. It was pursued at speeds of up to 90mph, driving along both sides of the road and narrowly missing two oncoming vehicles.
“Near Aigas Golf Course, it braked harshly, the vehicle fish-tailed and then began slowing down before travelling down an embankment, through a fence and ended up in a field.
“Gordon then got out and ran away, chased by the police officers who managed to catch him.
“He told them that he had been racing his friends to Alness.”
Sheriff McPartlin added: “The most serious charge is the dangerous driving and it is with some hesitation that I impose a community payback order.”