A drunk Fife teenager jumped into the back seat of his car on the M90, leaving it without a driver, as he was being pursued by police.
Colin Gillies carried out the idiotic stunt after sending an ex-boss 20 Instagram videos – each lasting about 10 seconds – showing him driving erratically and at speed in various locations.
One of the videos showed a speedometer clocking 80mph on Kirkcaldy esplanade.
In another, he was driving towards the Queensferry Crossing.
There was a passenger in the car at the time, who a sheriff said could easily have been killed.
M90 madness
Procurator fiscal depute Amy Robertson told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the 19-year-old’s former employer started receiving the videos from about 7am on July 10 this year.
Police were contacted and caught up with Gillies, noting him reaching speeds of between 90mph and 100mph and “swerving violently” between lanes on the M90 northbound passing junction 1C near Rosyth.
Officers turned on their blue lights but Gillies carried on in the same manner for about a minute before slowing.
Large amounts of smoke could be seen from the nearside wheel.
Had you either killed the passenger in your car… or some unfortunate individual going about their business, this would be in the High Court and you’d be jailed between five and 10 years if not longer.”
— Sheriff Robert More.
The fiscal depute said: “The vehicle moved into lane one and slowed to approximately 40mph, where police witnessed the accused jump from the driver’s side into the rear nearside of the vehicle.
“At this point the vehicle was out of control and without a driver and veered towards the central reservation.
“At this time the passenger lunged forward to take control of the steering wheel.”
The car rolled to a stop on the grass verge and Gillies was removed.
Both constables noticed he smelled of alcohol.
After a positive roadside breath test he was taken to a police station where a further breath sample revealed he was twice the legal limit (44mics/22).
Accepts ‘being an idiot’
Gillies pled guilty drink-driving charge and driving dangerously, in excess of the speed limit, swerving between lanes and entering the back seat of the car while the vehicle was in motion, leaving the vehicle to continue without a driver.
He also admitted driving the car without holding a full driving licence or insurance.
Defence lawyer Calum Harris said Gillies, of Katrine Crescent in Kirkcaldy, had been drinking alcohol with a friend – the car passenger – the night before the incident and stopped drinking around 11pm.
Mr Harris said his client was “appalled” by his actions.
Sheriff Robert More said: “What on Earth was he doing driving in that way on a motorway at that location?
“That’s the most significant aspect of this.”
Mr Harris replied Gillies accepts he was “being an idiot” as a result of intoxication and did not feel he was himself that day.
The lawyer said his client offered little explanation for the decision to go for a drive or for jumping from the driver’s seat into the back seat of the car as police approached.
He said Gillies has suffered a difficult childhood from the absence of both parents and had spent time in the care system.
High Court death warning
Sheriff More told Gillies: “To place this in some context, had you either killed the passenger in your car – which is easily possible – driving on the M90 last month or some unfortunate individual going about their business, in these circumstances this would be in the High Court and you’d be jailed between five and 10 years if not longer.”
The sheriff banned Gillies from driving for a total of 16 months.
He was also told to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and was placed on offender supervision for nine months.
The sheriff told Gillies the sentence is a direct alternative to custody.
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