Teenager not old enough to drive sped off when caught by police

A 16-year-old motorist was chased through the centre of Cowdenbeath by police when he was still not old enough to drive.

The teenager drove through built-up areas at 50mph on the wrong side of the road and was arrested when he finally stopped and tried to make a run for it.

The youth, now aged 17, lives in Cowdenbeath and cannot be named for legal reasons.

He admitted that on June 29 in Pit Road and Centenary Place, Cowdenbeath, he drove while under the age to hold a driving licence and without insurance.

He also admitted driving dangerously, refusing to stop, repeatedly failing to indicate at junctions, driving at excessive speeds of up to 50mph in a built-up area, straddling both carriageways, driving on the opposing carriageway and repeatedly braking harshly when negotiating a bend.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf told Dunfermline Sheriff Court police received a call about the accused’s driving at around midnight. They found the car being driven towards Pit Road. It sped off and police activated their blue lights.

“The accused continued to accelerate and it became clear he wasn’t going to stop,” added Ms Yousaf.

Defence solicitor Barbara Collie said her client “panicked” when he saw the police.

Sheriff Alison McKay said: “This was an atrocious piece of driving. It put you in danger, the public in danger and also the police in danger. You should not even have been on the road.”

She imposed a community payback order with 134 hours of unpaid work as well as a twoyear driving ban. He will have to sit the extended driving test.