Cops in high speed chase after £27,000 drug handover

A driver fled in a Range Rover after police caught him handing amphetamine worth £27,000 to another man in a Hamilton street.

Christopher Barry narrowly missed pedestrians and other vehicles during a high-speed chase before turning into a dead end.

Barry, 33, of Prospecthill Crescent, Glasgow, admitted a charge of dangerous driving when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.

He and co-accused Michael Mccabe, 39, of Roseberry Place, Hamilton, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine.

The drugs charge stated that the offence was aggravated by a connection to serious organised crime.

Police were carrying out surveillance in Seaton Terrace on October 23, 2020, when the Range Rover arrived.

Chloe O’hara, prosecuting, told the court:“mccabe approached the vehicle, opened the boot and removed two heavyweighted bin bags.

“The driver, Barry, got out and spoke to Mccabe before closing the boot and returning to the driver’s seat.

“Several police officers pursued Mccabe on foot, detained him and seized the bags. Other officers drew up alongside the Range Rover, but Barry drove off at speed, across the pavement and on to a grass area.

“Officers followed him for about 10 minutes. They watched him undertake other vehicles repeatedly at speed, drive through numerous red lights and travel the wrong way on roundabouts.

“All the while he narrowly missed other vehicles and pedestrians.

“He eventually drove into a dead end in East Kilbride and was arrested.”

The amphetamine seized weighed 17 kilos and was worth between £17,000 and £27,000.

Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence on Barry and Mccabe until next month for criminal justice social work reports and electronic tagging assessments.

He allowed them to remain on bail, but warned:“you have pleaded guilty to serious matters and the court will look at all sentencing options.”

He narrowly missed other vehicles and pedestrians