A Dundee man led police on a high-speed chase through several busy streets, driving on the wrong side of the road, then drove through a public park before skidding on the grass and ending up in a ditch.
Peter Drinnan, 29, of Honeygreen Road, who is without speech, sped away from police when they spotted him driving without L-plates, Dundee Sheriff Court heard.
Police knew he had no licence and pursued him, depute fiscal Charmagne Gilmartin said, with blue lights flashing, and watched as Drinnan overtook a van on the crest of a hill at speeds approaching 60mph.
Appearing with the aid of a signer, Drinnan admitted that on September 20 last year, on Clepington Road, Caird Terrace, Hepburn Street, Caird Avenue, Old Glamis Road and Caird Park, he drove dangerously at excessive speeds, overtook on a blind crest, failed to give way at a roundabout, continued to drive at excessive speed on the opposite carriageway, went round aroundabout the wrong way, drove up the wrong lane of a dual carriageway, entered Caird Park and drove across the grass before crashing the car into a ditch.
He also admitted driving without a licence or insurance.
The court heard police knew he only had a provisional licence, the depute fiscal said.
Police noted his speed at around 60mph and followed as he firstly failed to give way at the Kingsway roundabout, then drove the wrong way round another roundabout on Old Glamis Road and carried on up the wrong carriageway.
Ms Gilmartin said: “He turned into Caird Park and drove across the grass, sliding sideways and ending up in a ditch.”
Solicitor Jim Caird said Drinnan had panicked as he knew he had no licence or insurance.
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan said: “The circumstances are very serious, if you had more of a record I would be considering a period in custody, but by a narrow margin I will not be imposing that.”
Drinnan was disqualified from driving for three years and fined £800.