Banned driver fled from police

A disqualified driver jumped over a barrier and ran across fields and a motorway after being stopped by police.

Peter McLaren got behind the wheel fewer than two weeks after being banned for six months and has now been jailed as a result.

McLaren, 36, of Bank Place, Leslie, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on October 13 on the A92 westbound between Cowdenbeath and Halbeath, he drove while disqualified and without insurance.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said: “At 5.40pm police officers on mobile patrol carried out a PNC check on a vehicle in front of them and discovered it had no insurance.”

McLaren was signalled to stop and did so. He told officers he was unaware the car was not insured.

The depute went on: “He was asked to sit in the police vehicle but jumped over a barrier and ran down the embankment towards the M90. The officers are described as being in hot pursuit of him.

“The accused ran across both carriageways of the M90 but both officers caught him up and he was finally apprehended after running up an embankment and into a field.”

Solicitor Alexander Flett said: “He panicked because he was disqualified and he ran away.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair jailed McLaren for five months and banned him from driving for 20 months.