A DRIVER impersonated a police officer by wearing a high-visibility jacket and activating blue flashing lights in his car — forcing another motorist to pull over.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the lighting unit found in Dawid Weclawik’s vehicle was able to perform the same lighting patterns as official police equipment.
Weclawik, 30, of Ancrum Court, appeared suddenly behind another driver on Coupar Angus Road, shortly after midnight, on June 28.
Fiscal depute Alan Kempton told the court the other vehicle was driven by Blair Shaw, 20, who had a passenger.
The fiscal said: “The complainer saw the accused’s vehicle approach behind his vehicle very quickly.
“The accused then travelled very close to the complainer’s car, causing him to slow down and put on hazard lights.
“The complainer then saw blue and red flashing lights illuminated from the accused’s vehicle, which continued to travel closely behind.”
Mr Shaw and his passenger thought it was a police car and Mr Shaw brought his vehicle to a stop. Weclawik pulled his car alongside Mr Shaw’s, then shouted at him but it was “unclear” what was being said.
He then drove off at speed.
Mr Shaw and his passenger were suspicious and contacted police.
They saw Weclawik park his vehicle and challenged him, asking if he was a police officer. Weclawik said he did not speak English and walked off.
Police arrived and found the lighting unit attached to the bottom of Weclawik’s windscreen with suction cups.
He admitted to police that he had installed the lighting unit.
Alexandra Short, defending, told the court Weclawik was wearing a jacket he is required to wear during his work at a chicken factory in Cupar.
Miss Short said: “He says he was agitated by the people driving in front of him and put on the lights to overtake.
“He admits he did know what he was doing and is aware he shouldn’t have done it.”
Weclawik admitted impersonating a police constable with intent to deceive while driving a car on the A923 Coupar Angus Road on June 28.
Sentence was deferred to September 14 and the lighting unit was forfeited.
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