A drunk driver led police on a high speed chase through Perth city centre in his mum’s car.
Arnis Silamikelis was more than four times the legal alcohol limit when he accelerated away from officers after a near-miss on Mill Street.
The 30-year-old was pursued by police as he raced through South Methven Street, High Street and Kinnoull Street in the early hours of August 1, last year.
His silver Clio was seen reversing at speed, spinning its wheels and failing to stop at a red light.
He was caught after driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Silamikelis appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday and admitted a charge of dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol.
He was told he had narrowly avoided being sent to prison.
Only ‘just’ avoids being locked up
Sheriff Kevin McCarron told Silamikelis: “This suggests that you are a danger to the public when you get behind the wheel of a car.”
He added: “These are serious offences.
“The question of whether you should keep your liberty today has been seriously exercised in my mind.
“Just – and no more – I am willing to deal with this by way of a community payback order.
“But it will be an alternative to custody. If you are back here for failing to comply, then I don’t think you will get a second chance.”
Silamikelis, who also admitted driving while disqualified and with no insurance, was banned from the road for three-and-a-half years and ordered to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
He was also placed on supervision for 18 months.
Drove passed pedestrians
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hogdson told the court: “At about 1.15am, police officers were on mobile patrol when they saw the accused’s car narrowly avoiding crashing into another vehicle.
“This was in an area of the town where there are a lot of nightclub and bars.
“Officers approached the accused in his car on foot. The vehicle was static at the time.
“The car then took off.”
She said: “Police activated their blue lights and drove after the accused.
“There were a lot of pedestrians in the area at the time.”
Eventually, Silamikelis came to a halt and officers ran to his car.
“The officers noticed there were empty bottles of alcohol inside the vehicle,” said Ms Hodgson.
“He was arrested and breathalysed.”
He recorded a reading of 94 mics of alcohol in his system. The legal limit is 22 mics.
Disturbance at Asda
The court also heard Silamikelis caused a disturbance in Asda on Perth’s Dunkeld Road in October, last year.
“The accused made his way to the alcohol aisle and removed a metal tag from a bottle,” the fiscal depute said.
“He was challenged by a member of staff and the accused immediately became aggressive.”
He ranted and swore at the employee.
He was still shouting when police turned up to arrest him a short time later.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “It’s clear from both of these incidents that alcohol is certainly an issue.
“He had had a falling out with his girlfriend the night before the dangerous driving incident.
“He consumed some alcohol and – in his own words – made the stupid mistake of driving his mother’s car to his girlfriend’s property.”
Ms Cullerton said: “Again, he was under the influence of alcohol during the incident at Asda.”
The court heard that unemployed Silamikelis, of Stanley Crescent, Perth, is due to start a new job in the construction industry.
