A teenager with a “passion for cars” has been banned from the roads after leading police on a chase – over a faulty headlight.
Former mechanic Adam Fishwick accelerated through junctions and weaved across the road after officers tried to stop him in Keith.
The 18-year-old caused “substantial damage” to three parked cars in his attempt to evade the pursuing officers shortly after midnight on February 5.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard the teen then abandoned the car in a secluded spot, and ripped off part of the number plate.
Fishwick, of Boharm, near Craigellachie, yesterday admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The teen, who now works as a chef, also admitted a separate drink-driving charge.
Fiscal Martina Eastwood told the court Fishwick had initially cooperated with police when they asked him to pull over at the Tesco in Keith for having a faulty headlight.
However, after entering the car park he “harshly accelerated” his Vauxhall Corsa before ignoring a no entry sign leading to Balloch Road.
Mrs Eastwood added: “Police pursued him and attempted to catch up with him. He approached the junction with Bridge Street at speed and went straight through the junction.
“Police continued to follow him and saw brake lights come on as he went from side to side and went out of control.
“They later found he had lost control and collided with three parked vehicles on Balloch Road, which caused his bumper and number plate to fall off.”
The Vauxhall was later found abandoned in a secluded spot at Mill of Towie with the remaining number plate ripped off.
After being traced at his home Fishwick told police he had panicked when officers stopped him because he did not have a valid MOT.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said: “I would have thought the MOT would be the least of his worries.”
Defence solicitor Ian Maltman said his client already had five penalty points on his licence at the time of the offence and feared being banned.
He added: “He has shown a real lack of maturity, which resulted in taking these actions, which he regrets.
“He was in employment at a garage but lost that. It was his dream job, he has a passion for cars and he has lost that. He has recently started working at a local distillery.”
Fishwick was also sentenced for being nearly four times the drink-drive limit shortly before 1am on Mid Street in Keith on November 20 last year.
He had 80microgrammes of alcohol in 100millilitres of breath, the legal limit is 22mcg.
Fishwick was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £480 and ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work. He must also resit his test before getting back behind the wheel.
