A 70-year-old biker who led police on a 138mph chase through Angus has avoided a jail sentence.
Peter Elliot Farquhar, who held an unblemished licence for more than 50 years, was banned from driving for three years at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced the retired painter to 150 hours’ community service the same fate as his co-accused Roy Buick McPhee, 51, who was banned for three-and-a-half years.
Farquhar, of Cairnie Crescent, Arbroath, and McPhee, of the town’s Brechin Road, previously admitted driving dangerously at 138mph in a 60mph zone on March 31 last year on the A933 Brechin to Arbroath Road at Montreathmont.
They also admitted failing to stop when requested to do so by a police officer, and Farquhar further admitted driving dangerously at speeds of up to 100mph within a 30mph zone on Kirkton Road, Arbroath.
McPhee admitted driving dangerously at speeds of up to 100mph on Kirkton Road, Cairnie Street, Stobcross, Wellgate, Robert Street, Spink Street and Helen Street.
Officers reported overtaking cars towing caravans, a fire engine and tractors as they pursued the reckless riders.
Appearing for both men, defence agent Anne McKeown said they regretted their actions.
She added: “Mr Farquhar is a first offender as far as his driving record is concerned and he passed his test at the age of 16 some 54 years ago. He accepts full responsibility for his actions and his stupidity.”
Ms McKeown told the court that McPhee’s father had died since his last court appearance.
She said: “His mother is now inevitably going to be more dependant on him than ever.”
Farquhar, McPhee and a group of six friends, all in their sixties and seventies, were on their way back from a weekend ride to Braemar on the day of the offence.
The court previously heard how the group came out of the woods at Montreathmont and Farquhar and McPhee broke away as they got on the 60mph A933.
Police were carrying out speed checks around 1.50pm when they saw the bikes travelling clearly in excess of the limit. Both men were clocked by a laser gun at 138mph and failed to respond to police attempts to get them to stop.
Officers gave chase but the bikes were lost to sight by the time they reached Colliston, still travelling in excess of 100mph.
It was not until they reached Cairnie Loan that Farquhar pulled up and McPhee was later apprehended.