Boxer leapt from car in police chase through city

A Tayside boxing champ leaped from a speeding car seconds before it smashed into a bollard during a dramatic police pursuit through the streets of Dundee.

Stephen Donald led officers on a dangerous high-speed chase along several residential roads in the city’s Mill O’ Mains area.

The 23-year-old hit speeds of up to 80mph and Perth Sheriff Court heard one police officer was thrown to the ground and injured as he tried to make an arrest.

The pursuit did not end when lightweight fighter Donald crashed his car on Jack Martin Way.

The groundworker tried to escape on foot but was chased down by officers.

The amateur boxer appeared in the dock yesterday and admitted driving dangerously on July 9 2020. He pled guilty to failing to stop for police and culpably and recklessly driving off when PC James Johnston tried to apprehend him, causing the officer to fall to the ground.

Sheriff William Wood said: “These are very serious charges. The cold nature of these offences shows a persistent defiance of law and order. And the manner in which that was done created a danger to the public and to the officers.”

The sheriff admitted he was “fighting the urge” to jail Donald but told him: “I am satisfied that jail is not the only option available here.”

Donald, of Wallfield Crescent, Aberdeen, was fined £2,700 and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from the road for 32 months and placed on supervision for a year.

Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said the police’s attention was drawn to a silver Audi around 3.30am. The car failed to stop and officers chased it as Donald turned onto Hebrides Drive before looping back into Eriskay Drive, hitting speeds of up to 80mph.

The prosecutor said: “He continued to refuse to stop for police.”

Donald went round a roundabout at Old Glamis Road the wrong way and was briefly lost from view but was spotted again travelling “head-on” towards a police vehicle. He turned right and was lost from sight.

Police soon found the vehicle parked on Emmock Road with Donald alone in the driver’s seat.

Ms Hodgson said: “The accused was seen to produce a key and he moved his hand towards the ignition.

“PC James Johnston broke the driver’s window and attempted to secure the key. However, the accused started the car.”

“The car moved off, throwing PC Johnston to the ground. He was left with bruising and lacerations to his left arm and elbow.”

The fiscal depute said the vehicle turned onto Jack Martin Way.

“The accused was seen to alight from the vehicle, while the vehicle was still in motion,” she said.

“The car collided with a bollard at the roundabout. The accused then made off on foot and another pursuit began.”

Donald was caught and led back to the waiting police vehicles.

Solicitor Billy Watt, defending, said Donald had since been diagnosed with ADHD, depression and anxiety.

His client’s offending was confined to the time in his life when he was undiagnosed, he said.

“When the police officer smashed his window, he just panicked,” Mr Watt added.

“He acknowledges the gravity of this offence.”

Donald admitted driving dangerously along Eriskay Drive, Hebrides Drive, Claverhouse Road, Old Glamis Road, Emmock Road and Jack Martin Way.