A Tayside boxer leaped from a speeding car seconds before it smashed into a bollard during a dramatic police chase through the streets of Dundee.
Stephen Donald led officers on a dangerous high speed chase along several residential roads in the city’s Mill O’ Mains area.
The 23-year-old hit speeds of up to 80mph.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how one police officer was thrown to the ground and injured as he tried to make an arrest.
The pursuit did not end when lightweight fighter Donald crashed his car on Jack Martin Way.
The groundworker tried to escape on foot but was chased down by officers.
Sheriff William Wood told Donald: “I am fighting the urge to lock you up.”
‘Persistent defiance of law and order’
The amateur boxer, who has fought in competitions around Scotland, appeared in the dock on Wednesday and admitted driving dangerously in the early hours of July 9 2020.
He pled guilty to failing to stop for police and culpably and recklessly driving off when PC James Johnston tried to apprehend him, causing the officer to fall to the ground.
Sheriff Wood said: “These are very serious charges.
“The cold nature of these offences shows a persistent defiance of law and order.
“And the manner in which that was done created a danger to the public and to the officers.”
The sheriff admitted he was “fighting the urge” to jail Donald but told him: “I am satisfied that jail is not the only option available here.”
Donald, of Wallfield Crescent, Aberdeen, was fined £2,700 and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was banned from the road for 32 months and placed on supervision for a year.
Blue lights activated
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said: “At about 3.30am, police officers were engaged in mobile patrol in a marked vehicle in Dundee.
“Their attention was drawn to a silver Audi because of the manner of its driving.
“The vehicle was signalled to stop with blue lights and sirens.
“However, it failed to stop and officers engaged in a pursuit, which was authorised by the police control room.”
She said Donald turned onto Hebrides Drive and past several parked cars before looping back into Eriskay Drive.
The prosecutor said he travelled at speeds of up to 80mph “while taking up the whole width of the carriageway and crossing the central white line”.
“He continued to refuse to stop for police.
“Two officers took positions in surrounding roads.”
Donald went round a roundabout at Old Glamis Road the wrong way and was briefly lost from view but was spotted again travelling “head on” towards a police vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
He turned right and was lost from sight.
Officer down
Ms Hodgson said police found the vehicle shortly afterwards parked on Emmock Road, next to the Black Watch Memorial.
The engine was turned off, the hazard lights were on and Donald was in the car alone, in the driver’s seat.”
Ms Hodgson said: “Police tried the driver’s and passenger’s doors and found they were locked.
“The accused was seen to produce a key and he moved his hand towards the ignition.
“At this time, PC James Johnston broke the driver’s window and attempted to secure the key.
“However, the accused started the car.”
She said: “The car moved off, throwing PC Johnston to the ground.
“He was left with bruising and lacerations to his left arm and elbow.”
The fiscal depute said the vehicle turned onto Jack Martin Way.
“The accused was seen to alight from the vehicle, while the vehicle was still in motion,” Ms Hodgson said.
“The car collided with a bollard at the roundabout.
“The accused then made off on foot and another pursuit began.”
Donald was caught and led back to the waiting police vehicles.
Undiagnosed conditions
Solicitor Billy Watt, defending, said Donald had since been diagnosed with ADHD, depression and anxiety.
His client’s offending was confined to the time in his life when he was undiagnosed, he said.
“When the police officer smashed his window, he just panicked,” Mr Watt added.
“He acknowledges the gravity of this offence.”
Donald admitted driving dangerously along Eriskay Drive, Hebrides Drive, Claverhouse Road, Old Glamis Road, Emmock Road and Jack Martin Way.
