A mechanic tailgated police in an unmarked car for around 15 miles on the Dundee to Perth road and then undertook them, a court has been told.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how a red Saab being driven by Christopher Cownie, 26, of Jeanfield Crescent, Forfar, was so close to the police car at one point that the officers could not see his number plate.
Despite an officer “gesturing” for Cownie to give a greater distance between the vehicles, he continued to drive too close leading to other police officers being called in a bid to stop him.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court that two plain clothes police officers were travelling at 70mph on the A90 near Inchture at around 8.20am when they became aware of Cownie’s car being “extremely close” behind them.
“The accused’s car remained at a close distance behind the unmarked police car,” Mr Kermode said.
“Due to both lanes being busy with traffic, the police car stayed in the offside lane but the accused proceeded to follow them and was so close at one point the officers could not see his number plate.”
Mr Kermode said the officers’ opinion was that Cownie had not allowed sufficient braking distance between the cars.
“Police were alarmed by the standard of driving and one officer gestured to the accused to give a greater distance between the cars on several occasions but he failed to react,” he added.
“The officers then phoned police control room to get assistance. Two officers in a marked police car made their way but Cownie then overtook the unmarked car on his way up a slip road towards the Broxden roundabout.
“However, the other police car caught up with Cownie on the M90 and indicated for him to stop.”
Solicitor Billy Sommerville, defending, said his client is a mechanic who is based at a family firm in Forfar. He added that the firm also has a depot in Perth, and his client needs his driving licence because of this.
“My client was extremely impatient and if he had waited a few seconds he would not have had to undertake the unmarked police car,” he added.
Cownie had admitted that on April 20 on the A90 Dundee to Perth road, between Invergowrie and Friarton, he drove carelessly by driving extremely close to a car in front over an extensive distance, causing alarm to the occupants of the car, and undertook their vehicle.
Sentencing Cownie, Sheriff Fiona Tait told him: “You have two previous speeding offences and a failure to stop at a road sign, and having regard to that and these circumstances, I will disqualify you from driving for seven months and fine you £600.”