Lifetime ban for man who nearly hit officers with car

Aman with 17 previous convictions for driving while disqualified was handed a lifetime ban after nearly running over two police officers.

Jamie Mullen was caught behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs.

Police blocked his vehicle in a car park at Glenrothes’ Gilvenbank Park.

In a desperate bid to get away the 41-year-old mounted a pavement, narrowly missing officers.

When stopped, he was also found to have two illegal knives, as well as a quantity of heroin.

Depute fiscal Jill Currie told Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court: “This offence was within the car park at Gilvenbank Park.

“At 2.10pm police on mobile patrol in a marked vehicle entered the car park and observed two males in a Volkswagen Golf.

“Police parked their car behind the Golf and PC Archer exited to speak to the accused.

“The accused appeared pale, with pinpoint pupils, and was sweaty.

“PC Archer explained they were carrying out checks on cars and, on hearing this, the accused reached for the keys and put the car into gear.

“PC Archer told him to stop and shouted for PC Hitchins to join her.

“As PC Hitchens was passing between two cars, the accused attempted to mount the kerb and drive off – narrowly avoiding hitting officers with the car.

“Both officers attempted to stop the accused, who struggled to maintain control of the steering wheel.

“PC Archer removed the keys from the ignition and the accused was removed from the car and handcuffed.”

Officers found heroin and drug paraphernalia in the car, along with a two-inch cheese knife in a jacket on the back seat and a two-inch knife on a carabiner with the car keys.

Solicitor Eilidh Grant, defending, said Mullen used the knives while working on his cousin’s farm, but accepted he had no reasonable excuse for having them in Glenrothes.

She said: “Mr Mullen accepts being in the parked car when police stopped him.

“When he became aware of the police presence he panicked and turned on the engine, and attempted to drive away.”

She said Mullen had a 26-year drug addiction and had got clean during his last prison sentence.

However, he had started taking drugs again several months after being released from his latest prison sentence in November.

She added Mullen had driven to work on the day in question and was “frustrated” by his disqualification.

Mullen, of Loch Leven Terrace, Kelty, admitted driving dangerously at Huntsman Road, near Gilvenbank Park.

He further admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving while disqualified, and possessing heroin and knives.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: “You know and I know that your record is appalling.”

He jailed Mullen for a total of 11 months.

He also handed him a lifetime disqualification for attempting to run over the police officers.

Mullen received his first driving ban prior to 1999, when he received his first conviction for driving while disqualified.

He quickly racked up a number of new bans, with some offences committed just months after his latest ban.

He received his first lifetime ban in 2003.

Jamie Mullen was under the influence of drugs.