A man who drove a stolen car through a bush, down a footpath and across a playing field before crashing into a tree has been spared jail.
Samuel Martin said he feared police who pursued him after spotting he was driving a stolen car were major criminals, a court was told.
Officers in an unmarked car followed Martin, 38, after realising the silver Vauxhall Corsa he was driving in Western Avenue, Glenrothes, had been stolen five days earlier.
Appearing by video link, Martin, of Aitken Road, Glenrothes, pled guilty to driving dangerously in the incident, around 10.30am on March 12, and to the reset of the stolen car.
Sheriff Craig Harries placed Martin on social work supervision for two years, imposed a six-month 7pm-7am curfew and disqualified him from driving for two years.
He told Martin: “You’re just on the cusp of going to prison for this.”
Prosecutor Alistair McDermid told Falkirk Sheriff Court there were three people in the vehicle.
The Corsa parked in a parking space in Claymore Drive, Glenrothes, and two males leapt out from the front and rear passenger seats and fled.
Mr McDermid said: “A constable approached the vehicle but before he could get to the driver’s door the vehicle quickly wheelspun into a bush.
“The officer tried to approach again but had to retreat because the driver was revving the engine so harshly.
“He drove through the bush and along a pathway.
“Then it turned left into a playing field and crashed into a tree.”
Martin got out and ran down a steep embankment where he was apprehended by police who had to use incapacitant spray because he was “hostile”.
Martin told police he had not known who was pursuing him and thought it was “a gang of gangsters from Glasgow”.
Defence agent Martin McGuire said his client had bought the Corsa from “an acquaintance” without making any real checks about its origin.
He said: “His position is that once he became aware the men were police officers he was fully compliant with them.”
