Mechanic banned from road after driving stolen car on A9

A mechanic who reversed away from police officers at a service station has been banned from driving for 21 months.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown told Perth Sheriff Court Michael Davies, 29, of Glasgow, had been spotted by a member of the public in a car which still had a “sale” sticker on it at around 10.45pm.

“Police followed the accused to Balhadie motorway services on the A9 Stirling to Perth road,” he said.

“Officers saw the accused but he reversed out of the petrol station and they then activated their blue lights.”

The court heard that Davies was not traced by police until 12.30am on a rural road in Stirlingshire.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said his client was aware the vehicle had already been stolen and also knew he could face jail if he was caught behind the wheel. Davies admitted that on June 17 last year he reset a car in Dunkeld Road, Perth.

He also admitted that on the same date he drove a car while disqualified and without insurance, and that he failed to stop when asked to do so by two police officers on the A9 Stirling to Perth road at Balhadie.

Sheriff Gillian Wade banned Davies also ordered him to carry out 180 hours’ unpaid work in the community.

Elsewhere, Allan Gibson, 64, of St Serfs Place, Crook of Devon, was fined £500 and banned from driving for 12 months.

He admitted driving carelessly in Emslie Drive, Kinross, on December 1 last year by mounting a pavement and colliding with a parked car.

Police on patrol had spotted Gibson hitting the vehicle.