Police car chase halts taxi career

A Fife man crashed his car after speeding through built-up areas in a bid to escape from a pursuing police patrol car.

Kevin Vernie, who had planned to become a taxi driver, then refused to take a breath test after the accident which resulted in his car being written off.

Vernie, 46, of Station Road, Cairneyhill, will be sentenced next month but was banned from driving in the interim.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court he admitted driving dangerously by failing to stop when requested by police using blue lights and then driving at more than 60mph in residential areas, losing control of his car and colliding with a metal barrier.

The offence happened on September 23 last year, on Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, Crossford Main Street and on the A994 Crossford to Cairneyhill road.

Vernie also admitted failing to provide two breath specimens at Dunfermline Police Station.

Solicitor Stephen Morrison said that his client was agitated at the time because he had been headbutted in a kebab shop before getting in his car. He added: “He can’t really explain why he drove off from the police.”

The solicitor said his client had planned to become a taxi driver but had to hand back his licence because of this offence.

Sheriff Craig McSherry called for reports before Vernie returns to court.