A convicted armed robber has been jailed for riding a motorbike dangerously and reaching speeds of up to 120mph while being pursued by police in and around Kirkcaldy.
Sonny Gibson, 35, was also twice caught behind the wheel while serving an interim driving ban.
Gibson has a lengthy record which includes a High Court conviction for assault and robbery involving a handgun.
Gibson – and accomplice Jay Johnstone – were each jailed for four years and eight months for the robbery at Malkha’s News and Wine Store in Kirkcaldy’s Birnam Road in July 2013.
Police welcomed the sentencing at the time and Chief Inspector Derek McEwan said the shop owner had “feared for his life”.
‘120mph in a 70’
Gibson appeared in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court this week via video link from prison for sentencing in relation to the driving offences.
Procurator fiscal depute Rachel Hill said police spotted him turning into Rosslyn Street at around 6:20pm on August 4, 2018.
The fiscal said: “He was travelling around 60mph in a 30mph, with officers only just managing to keep him in sight.
“Officers continued to watch the accused approach a roundabout travelling at 90mph in a 70.
“As he approached he undertook a slower vehicle and the police then activated their blue lights and sirens as the accused continued to travel north at speeds of up to 120mph in a 70.
“At the next roundabout he undertook a slower moving vehicle, all in excess of 100mph.
“On approach to the following roundabout he sat upright on the bike and saw police following and indicated left to stop.”
Multiple charges
Upon being charged, Gibson said he’d been “careless and stupid”.
In March 2019, Gibson pled guilty to riding the motorbike dangerously and at excessive speeds on various roads in Kirkcaldy including Lawson Street, Park Road, Rosslyn Street, the A921, the A92 and Kinglassie Road.
Gibson also admitted using the vehicle, which the court heard was his brother’s motorbike, without having valid insurance.
In October this year, Gibson also admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance on two occasions – in June 2020 in Lochgelly and September 2019 in Lumphinnans.
The court heard he had been living in Lochore prior to being remanded in custody for these offences.
Reverted to substance misuse
Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith said he was not satisfied there was a suitable alternative to custody when considering Gibson’s record and in particular, the nature of the driving.
He highlighted Gibson twice flouted an interim disqualification for his dangerous driving.
He jailed him for a total of 249 days, backdated to October 4 when he was first remanded in custody.
He also received driving bans of 12 months, 20 months and 32 months for each of the offences, to run concurrently.
Defence lawyer Martin McGuire said police, notwithstanding the nature of the driving, indicated in their report Gibson’s initial riding position made it harder to see them as they followed and that he did eventually pull over.
The solicitor said Gibson had gained employment and settled in a relationship following his release from prison for the robbery but this relationship broke down and he reverted to substance misuse.
