The top road policing officer in Angus has slammed a driving instructor who led his officers on a four-mile pursuit at up to 120mph.
Aberdeenshire man Andrew Paton claimed he needed the toilet so badly that he drove past a police stop at 86mph before accelerating even faster.
Tayside Division’s road policing unit (RPU) boss, Inspector Grant Edward, said Paton’s behaviour was “downright disgraceful”.
Two of his officers, with a combined RPU experience of 21 years, gave evidence to trial on Tuesday.
Paton, 49, was convicted of dangerous driving on Tuesday after a trial heard evidence from the officers involved in the chase Forfar-based constables Willie Strachan and Peter Fraser that the accused had undertaken a car near Bogindollo before braking sharply.
Mr Edward told The Courier: “He showed a flagrant disregard for other road users and certainly could not have stopped if anything had developed on the road.
“This is a ‘professional’ driver that should have known better.
“This should serve as an example to people that courts will support the police in their efforts to keep the roads safe.
“What was most glaring about this was this was over a distance of four miles, on a busy road disaster waiting to happen.”
Paton told Forfar Sheriff Court that he had been driving at about 85mph when his stomach began cramping, and he accelerated faster to get to Peggy Scott’s restaurant at Finavon.
Paton, of Badenscoth Cottages, Rothienorman, had denied charges of driving with excessive speed 120mph between the Forestmuir flyover and the Oathlaw junction, on April 21 last year.
Visiting sheriff Valerie Johnston found Paton guilty and disqualified him from driving for two years. She also issued him with a £350 fine.