Dealer sped away from cops

A drug dealer clocked speeds of 90mph in a built-up area as he tried to escape from chasing police cars.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard last week that Ryan Martin kept going despite bursting a tyre when he hit the kerb.

He rammed one of the police vehicles before being caught after his powerful Audi 4 car struck a garden fence.

Repeat offender Martin, 31, of Tannochside, admitted driving dangerously and failing to take a driver’s drug test after the chase on May 17, 2020.

Martin also admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis in Blairholm Drive in Bellshill, and at his then home in Blairhill Street, Coatbridge.

Two months ago he avoided a prison sentence at Airdrie Sheriff Court after cannabis worth £20,000 was seized from the Blairhill Street address in May 2019.

He and another man admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.

Martin was put under supervision for two years, ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid community work and electronically tagged for 145 days.

He was also banned for a year on an unrelated dangerous driving charge.

Martin was on bail for the first drugs offence when he realised police officers were tailing him on the M73 near Baillieston around 9pm on May 17, 2020.

Officers in two cars put on their sirens and blue lights, but the Audi failed to stop.

Martin sped off on the A89 towards Bargeddie then to Tannochside, Viewpark and Bellshill.

Police found £2900 and a bag containing cannabis worth £450 in the Audi. Another £1135 was seized from his Coatbridge home.

Defence agent Stephen Dryden asked that Martin’s bail be continued while background reports are prepared before he is sentenced.

Sheriff Alasdair Macfadyen then deferred sentence until next month and agreed to continue bail.