A disqualified driver who led police on an early morning chase across Aberdeen city centre has been jailed.
Arron Graham – who was serving a six-year driving ban at the time – panicked when he realised officers had spotted him behind the wheel of a white Vauxhall Corsa.
Instead of pulling over when police switched on their blue lights, the 27-year-old tried to flee by putting his foot down.
He jumped the red lights at the George Street and Hutcheon Street junction, causing a taxi driver to swerve out of his way.
Yesterday Graham appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted carrying out a series of driving offences on April 24 this year.
As well as driving dangerously by reaching “excessive speeds” and “ignoring traffic signals”, he also admitted driving without insurance and whilst disqualified.
He admitted a further charge of failing to stop when police tried to pull him over.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAllister said the incident had happened at around 2am.
He said: “At the time, police officers in a marked police vehicle saw the vehicle being driven by the accused along Catherine Street in Aberdeen.
“They had reason, at that stage, to require the car to stop. Police officers were able to get close enough to the vehicle to tell that the accused was the only one in the car.”
Mr McAllister said that it was at that point Graham realised the police were behind him and he “drove off at speed” towards George Street.
He added: “He was then seen to drive through a red light at the George Street and Hutcheon Street junction. As he did so a taxi driver had to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision.”
The court heard Graham, of Jute Street, Aberdeen, continued driving along, running through more red lights, while being followed closely by the police car.
Representing Graham – a repeat offender who has multiple road traffic convictions – solicitor Graeme Murray said his client had been arguing with his girlfriend shortly before the incident occurred.
He said: “The circumstances are, he had fallen out with his former partner as she was not letting him see his children. He was not in a good frame of mind and took the car, knowing that he should not have been driving.
“He had gone into town and he had seen the police. When their lights were activated, just before the traffic lights, he panicked knowing he was disqualified for a considerable amount of time.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said that given his list of previous convictions for similar offences she had no option but to send him to jail.
Graham was jailed for nine months and disqualified from driving for eight years.
