The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Man jailed for leading police on chase at speeds of 100mph
German citizen banned from the road and could be deported
A disqualified driver who led police on a 13-mile chase at speeds of up to 100mph was arrested after parking his car and trying to take a taxi home.
Shiva Ram, 23, a German citizen who “fishtailed” his BMW to try to shake off officers, was jailed for eight months yesterday and could be deported.
Stirling Sheriff Court heard that the incident began at 2am on February 9 when police came across his car, parked with the lights on and three people inside, on the entrance road to Blair Drummond Safari Park.
Depute fiscal Adrian Fraser said: “The police stopped their car in front of it and walked towards it. At that point the accused reversed, before driving forward at speed past the officers and south on the A84 towards Stirling.”
Mr Fraser said the police followed Ram’s car, which was hitting speeds of up to 80mph on the single carriageway A84, where the limit is 60.
Near Chalmerston Road, on the outskirts of Stirling, he went round a roundabout three times, again “fishtailing” before joining the M9 at Craigforth and heading north at speeds of up to 100mph.
He drove through residential streets in Dunblane at speeds of up to 60, before being lost from sight.
Mr Fraser said a taxi driver then received a call to pick up the accused and two others from Dunblane and take them to Glasgow. The taxi was pulled over by police as it headed out of Dunblane on Doune Road, and Ram was arrested.
Ram, of Kirkintilloch, appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty last month to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
Richard Lobjoie, defending, said Ram had lived in Scotland since he was six, but had, in the light of his offences, now received a Home Office letter stating that since he was no longer in employment, education or training he was being considered for deportation.
Sheriff William Gilchrist banned Ram from driving for 32 months.