A motorist led police on a 100mph chase through Moray after becoming “spooked” they would find out he was high on cocaine.
Amateur golfing champion Jake Scott was spotted by police heading towards Buckie at a high speed in the early hours of January 18.
When police switched on their blue lights to pull him over on the A98 Buckie to Fochabers road, he continued driving – even racing around a roundabout and going back past the way they came.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that officers continued to pursue him, but despite going at 90mph they were losing ground and decided to pull back at Arradoul.
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Scott, of Stotfield Road, Lossiemouth was traced and arrested the next day.
He confirmed he had failed to stop, and said he was “spooked” by the police as he had binged on a “couple of grams” of cocaine that day.
Yesterday, the talented amateur golfer – who won the North Champion of Champions event in Nairn in 2017 – admitted failing to stop for police and driving while under the influence.
Depute fiscal Alex Swain told the court Scott had apologised for his behaviour when questioned.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill acknowledged that his client was facing an extremely serious charge but praised him for being truthful about the incident from the outset.
He said: “My client is lucky the nature of his driving did not result in serious consequences and he acknowledges this himself, that this could have caused a serious incident to the public.
“He has been very open about the difficulties in his life and how he went from having a promising future to a man struggling with substance abuse issues after making a wrong decision once.
“His problems began at a younger age and he has struggled to deal with them.”
“He was a fantastic golfer and is still a young man who has a whole life ahead of him.”
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told Scott he was lucky he was not facing more serious charges.
She said: “It’s not too late for him to explore those options that are left open to him and he appears motivated to make changes.”
He was disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to undergo drug counselling and given 300 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.
