An “out of control” Tayside teenager crashed his car into traffic police after failing to negotiate a roundabout, a court heard.
The 17-year-old from Dundee, who cannot be named for legal reasons, smashed into the Tayside Road Policing Unit (RPU) vehicle on the A92 near Elliot, on the outskirts of Arbroath, last summer.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard the teenager had already racked up a record for “various” driving offences at Dundee Sheriff Court and still has one matter outstanding.
A solicitor said recent court proceedings had “brought home” to the accused the realisation his driving behaviour was “out of control”.
And a sheriff warned that “the walls will come tumbling down” if any more offences come to light.
The accused admitted a charge of dangerous driving on the A92 on July 6, driving at excessive speed, failing to negotiate the Elliot roundabout, driving on the wrong side of the dual carriageway in the face of oncoming vehicles and forcing motorists to take evasive action, failing to give way at road markings, and colliding with the police car, causing damage to both vehicles.
He also admitted driving without insurance on the same date.
Not guilty pleas of driving without insurance and failing to stop for uniformed RPU officers were accepted by the Crown.
Defence agent Billy Rennie said his client was “very much aware” of Sheriff Gregor Murray’s comments at a previous hearing, which indicated that the accused may face detention.
Mr Rennie said: “He is 17 still.
“Since January he has been in the Dundee court and is complying with a restriction of liberty order, between 7am and 7pm, over various road traffic matters.
“The court has set a review in March to monitor the RLO.
“He said to me he’s been out of control, and it’s now been brought home to him how out of control he has been.”
Sheriff Murray told the teenager: “With hesitation, I will defer sentence on you to April.
“Keep your nose clean or else the walls will come tumbling down.”
The accused’s interim disqualification was continued until sentencing.