A young driver was placed in an induced coma after leading police on a high speed chase around Perth city centre.
Dundee student David Law motored down several streets during the early morning pursuit before ditching his car and fleeing on foot.
The 25-year-old briefly escaped, but was tracked down on a railway bridge walkway.
As he was arrested, officers noticed a home-made cannula on his arm.
Law told police he had taken 250mg of sedative diazepam.
He was rushed to hospital where he was put into a coma.
Blue lights activated
Originally charged with dangerous driving, Law appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted a reduced charge of careless driving on January 4 2020.
He further pled guilty to failing to stop for police.
Fiscal depute David Currie told the court: “At about 2.20am, officers were on mobile patrol around Tay Street in Perth.
“They spotted a grey SAAB vehicle, being driven at speed.
“Officers pursued the vehicle and activated their blue lights.”
Mr Currie said: “They managed to get in front of the accused but he pulled over to go around them to get away.”
Law sped on towards a mini-roundabout at the corner of Marshall Street and Shore Road.
“He entered the opposing side of the carriageway and subsequently negotiated the roundabout and pedestrian island on the wrong side of the road.
“At that time, the accused would not have been able to see if there was anyone else on the road – although there is no suggestion that there was, given the time of morning.”
Police followed Law around Nelson Street and Marshall Place before losing sight of him.
They found his abandoned car a short time later.
Railway bridge stand-off
“The accused was also traced,” said Mr Currie.
“He was out of the vehicle and making his way on foot along a footpath which runs parallel with the railway bridge.”
Police held back from rushing in to arrest Law after they were mistakenly told he may have a weapon.
Following a brief stand-off, police restrained him to the ground and applied handcuffs.
Mr Currie said: “It was noted at that time that the accused had made a homemade cannula in his left forearm.
“A plastic syringe was lying at his feet on the path.
“He informed police that he had self-administered 250 mg of diazepam whilst on the railway bridge.
“Officers called an ambulance and the accused was conveyed to Perth Royal Infirmary where he was placed in an induced coma.”
Much of the incident was captured on city centre CCTV, the fiscal depute said.
Mistaken identity
Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said his client had reached a low point.
“That was why he was out, at that time.
“I think that seeing the police with their lights on had spooked him.
“The police themselves would have been spooked by him.
“When they saw him up on the railway bridge, walking back and forth, they did not immediately approach because the intelligence they had received over the radio was that David Law had a history involving weapons – but that was a different David Law, not the one in court today.”
Mr Ralph said: “That (pause) was maybe for the best, because it gave Mr Law time to calm down a bit.”
Law, of School Road, Forgandenny, spent a week in hospital, his solicitor said.
“He has come a long way since this incident and has now started his third year at university.
“He is in a much better place in his life, and I don’t think he will trouble the court again.”
Sheriff Francis Gill told Law: “Your driving on this occasion was extremely careless and reckless.
“Although it was the early hours of the morning, you could easily have come across other road users and pedestrians.”
Law was fined £540 and banned from driving for eight months.
