A serial car thief was given eight months detention today for dangerous driving – just months after being locked up for a £400,000 car heist.
Liam Smith, 18, was given the sentence at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after driving dangerously in a stolen Mercedes round the city.
Smith is currently serving an 18-month sentence at Polmont Young Offenders Institution for his involvement in stealing nearly £500,000 worth of luxury cars from an oil tycoon.
Sheriff Graeme Napier told the teenager that he needed to get his life back on track.
The sheriff said: “You acted like a child and it seems you are going to have to grow up a bit.
“Because you are a young man the penalties I’m going to put in place are less than what would have been otherwise imposed.
“I have to give you some hope that there will be an end to this
“This is your first dangerous driving charge – hopefully it will be your last.”
The court heard previously that Smith was caught committing the latest offences, which took place in April, by another motorist who had a CCTV camera mounted on his bonnet.
Smith was seen driving the stolen silver Mercedes CLS250 recklessly across the city, mainly in the Dyce area, at excessive speed.
Witnesses saw him overtaking a long queue of traffic at one point in the face of oncoming vehicles.
The court heard a number of these cars had to pull over or swerve to avoid crashing into him.
Smith admitted reset and dangerous driving at a previous court appearance.
The additional eight months detention will be added to Smith’s current sentence.
The teenager was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for two years.
Yesterday Jordan Chesser, 17, also appeared in the dock alongside Smith.
He previously admitted driving a stolen Range Rover sport around the city.
The court heard it was accepted that the two were travelling together around the city in their stolen cars.
His sentence was deferred.
He is to return to court next month.