A dangerous driver led police on a dramatic high-speed chase through rural Angus, before abandoning his car in a field.
Kane McDonald put lives at risk when he sped through the darkened countryside with children in his vehicle.
Several police units were deployed to try and stop the “out of control” Honda CR-V.
Officers set up a stinger on the roadway to puncture his tyres.
But the 25-year-old went off-road and ditched the vehicle in farmland, before vanishing.
McDonald, of Armour Place, Dundee, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted driving dangerously and without insurance on November 14, 2020.
Sheriff Derek Reekie told him: “I very much hope your attitude has changed.
“Your court report makes for very sorry reading. You seem to have no remorse whatsoever for driving in this manner.
“You could have killed yourself, the occupants of this car, or any other road users who had the misfortune to come across you.”
He said: “It was a prolonged distance that you travelled while police were pursuing you.
“This was outrageous driving. You put yourself and everyone else at very serious risk.”
The sheriff added: “The custody threshold has definitely been met, but I am just persuaded that there is an alternative disposal.”
McDonald was fined £400, placed on a Restriction of Liberty curfew for nine months and banned from driving for 27 months.
“It seems to me that, with your attitude, you shouldn’t be going near a car,” said the sheriff.
Report of ‘reckless’ driving
Fiscal depute Jill Drummond told the court McDonald only has a provisional driving licence.
“On November 14, 2020, officers received information that the accused was seen driving in the Fintry area of Dundee in a reckless manner,” she said.
“At about 10.20pm, police were on mobile patrol in a marked vehicle in Camperdown Park.
“Officers observed the accused’s vehicle negotiating a left hand turn onto Dayton Drive.
“It appeared to be out of control, leaning heavily to one side as it turned at an inappropriate speed.”
She said the Honda travelled at speed along Dayton Drive, then onto Coupar Angus Road.
“At this time, officers saw that there was a group of youths within the vehicle.”
The fiscal depute added: “There was a further vehicle driving alongside, also in a reckless manner.
“Officers followed the vehicle they had initially seen, with the intention of stopping it to speak with the driver, regarding his manner of driving.
“They followed it along Coupar Angus Road, heading towards Birkhill, before turning towards Templeton Road.”
She said: “Police officers activated their lights and sirens. They also contacted area control.
“The vehicle was followed for a short distance, while more officers were brought in to help stop it.
“Police had in fact intended to use a stinger to stop the vehicle, due to its manner of driving.
“They had set up a site with the stinger in the vicinity.
“But the vehicle turned off into a field, which was unsuitable for police vehicles to follow.”
Police dog search
The court heard the car came to a halt and three people got out and made off on foot.
Ms Drummond said: “The dog unit was brought in to help trace males who had left the vehicle.”
Just before midnight, one of the people in the car identified McDonald as the driver.
One witness said that he had “walked away (from the car) in a different direction”.
The next day, McDonald was traced and admitted he had been driving.
“Checks were carried out and it became apparent there was no insurance,” said the fiscal depute.
A solicitor for McDonald said he had been “fearful of a custodial sentence”.
