Man warned he faces jail after high-speed rural police chase

Uninsured driver also reversed into a police vehicle

A Dundee man has been warned he could be sentenced to prison after reversing into a police vehicle and driving off after a high-speed chase.

Isaac McPhee, 29, was spotted driving with the licence plate of his white transit van obscured with a red rag towards an estate off the A924 road near Bridge of Cally on August 15 last year.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how he led officers on a race along rural Perthshire roads before reversing into a police vehicle and driving off after his van’s engine became affected by rain water.

Police had chased McPhee for about 20 miles and were joined by another two pursuit vehicles by the time of the collision on the single-carriageway B952 Alyth to Pitcrocknie road.

McPhee attempted to take off again but was unable to reach speeds above 20mph and he and a passenger ran off across a field. He then became tangled in a wire fence before continuing into a wooded area.

A police search revealed McPhee held a provisional licence and had been driving with no insurance.

Sheriff Gillian Wade told McPhee she took “a rather grim view of the matter” and warned him the circumstances could attract a custodial sentence.

“I urge you to cooperate very fully with the criminal social work department,” she added.

McPhee, of Balmedie Drive, Dundee, pled guilty to driving with no insurance and a provisional licence with no qualified driver present on August 15.

He also pled guilty to driving dangerously and at grossly excessive speeds for the road and conditions, failing to stop for police officers and reversing his vehicle when it was unsafe to do so and colliding with a police vehicle.

The case was adjourned until June 20 for a social work report to be obtained.

I urge you to cooperate very fully with the criminal social work department. SHERIFF GILLIAN WADE