Nine-year ban for crazy driver
Led cops on a car chase around housing estate
A demon driver who led police on a hair- raising 10- minute chase through a housing estate has been banned from the road for nine years.
Maniac Alexander Agnew, 38, deliberately drove dangerously around the same area SIX times as a crowd of youths gathered to cheer him on.
Agnew tore round in his silver Ford Focus at speeds approaching 50 mph where he ignored stop signs, blazed through junctions, drove on the wrong side of the road and even attempted to negotiate a roundabout in the wrong direction, until he was captured by police.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused had panicked when cops were pulling him over for a routine traffic stop and drove off at high speed. He ignored the 30pmh speed limit through the streets of Barrhead, with officers in hot pursuit, on the afternoon of October 11 last year.
He repeatedly drove around the Carlibar area adjacent to Carlibar Primary School as pedestrians, householders and families with children watched in horror.
Fiscal depute Hazel Emmerson said: “Primary school children had left school not long before. There were pedestrians within the area.
“Police were carrying out a routine check when they discovered the accused had no insurance for the vehicle and indicated they wished to speak to the driver.
“Police got out of their vehicle in order to speak toAgnew when he sped off.
“With blue lights and sirens activated, they contacted the control room to initiate a vehicle pursuit and continued through Glasgow Road, Waulkmill Avenue, Stewart Street and Carlibar Road.
“The accused made five or six loops of the same area lasting 10 minutes, causing vehicles to evasive action to avoid collision.
“He also braked sharply intending to cause a collision with the police vehicle behind.
“He performed a handbrake turn and almost collided with a garden fence.”
The court heard he attempted to perform u-turn at the Glasgow Road roundabout by heading the wrong way round it, until intercepted by another police car with the pursuit car blocking him in from behind.
Agnew, of Carlibar Road, Barrhead, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, at speeds up to 47 mph ignoring the 30mph limit, failing to slow down for speed bumps, braking sharply causing a police vehicle to take evasive action, performing a handbrake turn losing control of the vehicle, mounting the pavement and negotiating a roundabout in an anti- clockwise direction.
He also admitted driving without valid insurance covering his vehicle.
Defence agent Stephen Bentley said: “He deeply regrets this matter. He understands just how serious this incident was.
“He is thoroughly ashamed at himself. This course of action could have catastrophic consequences or even fatal consequences not just for himself but for police officers involved in the pursuit as well as pedestrians.
“He admits he was in very dark place, having been estranged from his partner and family at the time of the offence.
“He thought he was going to lose everything. He just panicked and inexplicably allowed himself to drive in such a manner.”
Sheriff Frances McCartney said: “This was an appalling standard of driving. There were children on the pavement.
“A large group of youths appeared to egg the car on.
“There was a danger to police officers engaged in chasing the car for a considerable time.
“And you were given the opportunity to stop but failed to do so.”
She said she came close to jailing Agnew but decided to spare him custody by handing him a Community Payback Order lasting 18 months where he will undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, within nine months, for benefit of the community.
She also banned him from the road for nine years and ordered he pass the extended test of competency before he can drive again.