A disqualified driver who drove at 80mph through Perth, 100mph on a dual carriageway, drove on the wrong side of the road, drove off while a policeman’s arm was through a car window and was pursued by two different police forces all with a woman passenger was jailed for 14 months at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Such was his speed that both Tayside Police and Central Scotland Police decided to give up pursuit of Andrew O’Neill (27), c/o Paton, Demoray Court, Stirling, and he was only stopped when a police car ran into him in Dunblane.
On Wednesday O’Neill admitted that on June 21 last year he broke into a house in Innerleith Way, Perth, and stole two ladies’ rings, four wristwatches, a pendant, a bracelet, cufflinks, two cameras, an iPod and a music folder. He also admitted that on June 26 last year at Watermill Cottage, Stanley, he reset a mobile phone and did this while on bail.
O’Neill pled guilty to a further charge that on June 26 last year on the A9 Inverness to Perth road, Inveralmond roundabout, the A912 Dunkeld Road, Barrack Street, Atholl Street, Charlotte Street, Mill Street, Glasgow Road, all Perth, the A9 Perth to Dunblane road and various roads in Dunblane he drove dangerously by driving at excessive speeds, on the wrong side of various carriageways, the wrong way down a one-way street and failed to stop a car when asked to do so by a police officer and drove off while the officer had his arm in through the window, whereby he was injured.
O’Neill also admitted that on the same date and locations he drove while being disqualified and without insurance.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told the court that the owners of the house in Innerleith Way, Perth, had been out on the night of the robbery and at first were unaware of items being stolen.
“The items were valued at £1264,” he said. “The accused’s mother had phoned the police when her son arrived home as she suspected they had been stolen.”
The court heard police saw O’Neill driving a stolen Honda at Inveralmond roundabout in Perth at 5.50am on June 26 last year with Anne Marie Ashbridge (24), of Dorrartor Road, Camelon, as his passenger.
Mr Richardson said, “The accused was asked to turn off his car engine but did not, so a policeman reached inside to get the car keys but the accused drove off, resulting in a two-inch graze to the officer.”80mph in 30mph limitThe court then heard how police tried to follow O’Neill down Dunkeld Road, Perth, where he drove at “excessive speed” by doing 80mph in a 30mph limit. “Thankfully traffic was light at this time of day,” Mr Richardson added.
“The officers followed O’Neill when he went through a no entry sign at Mill Street, Perth. Police decided it was too dangerous to pursue him at this point but other officers then followed him in Glasgow Road and at the Broxden roundabout on to the A9, where he took the road for Dunblane travelling at an estimated speed of 100mph.
“The officers could not catch up with him and alerted officers from Central Scotland. His car travelled on the wrong side of the road at excessive speeds but again the officers thought it was too dangerous to pursue him. Then a police car crashed into him in Dunblane and the car stopped.”
Charlie McCusker, solicitor for O’Neill, said these matters were serious and his client realised he could face a custodial sentence.
“My client has attempted suicide following this and jumped from two floors, breaking his ankle, and will have problems with it for the rest of his life,” he told the court. “He has shown remorse.”
Sentencing O’Neill, Sheriff Richard McFarlane told him, “You stole items of sentimental value and violated these people’s security. Regarding the dangerous driving, you were followed by two different police forces and could have killed your passenger and could have caused the police officers and other road users to crash and caused the two police forces to abort in the interest of road safety.”
In addition O’Neill was disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to resit the extended test.
Ashbridge was sentenced to four months in prison after she also admitted resetting the mobile phone on June 26 last year and failing to make a court appearance.