An off-road biker who led cops on a 15-mile chase through Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen evaded stingers, ran red lights and hit speeds of 60mph.
Dylin Mundie had no insurance or licence when he was spotted by officers hurling his dirt bike around Durris Woods near Drumoak.
He fled and managed to escape their attempts to stop him multiple times before he was finally cornered in the city.
Fiscal depute Kiral Bonavina told Aberdeen Sheriff Court how police were called by a member of the public reporting someone driving an off-road bike in the Clune Wood area at around noon on March 23 2020.
“On arrival they saw the said bike being ridden off into the wood and one of the officers activated their body-worn video equipment,” Mr Bonavino told Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
“About 15 minutes later the bike was coming towards them and the officer gave clear verbal commands to the rider to stop.
“He took no heed of this command and made off at speed along the dirt track on an unclassified road called Denside of Durris heading on towards South Deeside Road where other units were ordered to attend.
“A static point was set up and a place assigned for a tyre deflation system and eventually the off-road bike was seen eastbound where it reacted to the presence of a marked vehicle and made off towards Aberdeen.”
The 22-year-old roofer hit speeds of up to 60mph as he weaved around traffic on South Deeside Road, South Anderson Drive, Queens Road, Great Western Road and Lewis Road.
Dropped bike and fled on foot
Mundie sped through two red lights near Anderson Drive and Great Western Road before being lost from sight.
He was next spotted in the Sheddocksley area of the city at around 12.50pm standing next to the bike.
“When approached by officers he sat on the bike and tried to ride away,” the fiscal added. “When this failed he dropped the bike and began to run away.
“Additional units were summoned. During the foot pursuit, he discarded his helmet and was captured in Stroma Terrace.”
After being arrested, he told cops he “had a full licence” but had failed to stop because he was “afraid police would seize his motorcycle”.
‘Chaotic period in his life’
Defence agent Charlie Benzies said Mundie had acted immaturely and how had a stabilising influence in the form of his girlfriend of three years.
“He appreciates it was extremely immature,” he said. “He was going through a chaotic period in his life and mixing with the wrong people.
“He wishes to apologise profusely to the police and anyone else he inconvenienced with his behaviour.
“He tells me it has been over one year since he has taken any illicit substances.”
As well as admitting dangerous driving, driving without insurance and a licence and failing to stop when told to do so, Mundie admitted possession of class A drug cocaine.
Spared jail thanks to new guidance
Sheriff Iain Nicol said were it not for the new sentencing guidelines for young people he would “probably be heading for prison” but instead was putting his faith into Mundie to comply with a community payback order.
“I am going to put my faith in you that you will make the effort to continue positive progress with your life … please repay that faith I’m showing,” the sheriff told him.
Mundie, of Marchburn Place, Aberdeen, was handed a 12-month roads ban and a community payback order comprising one year under supervision and a 10-month curfew.
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