A drink-driver drove at police officers – forcing them to leap out the way and hide.
Officers had to jump into a garden and hid behind a garage door after Richard Stuart drove at them on Seafield Crescent in Banff.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that he then reversed away at speed, but stalled and fled from the scene on the foot.
Yesterday, the 25-year-old admitted driving while nearly double the limit, without insurance or a licence and attempting to assault two police officers by driving towards them at excessive speed.
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Stuart, of Seafield Crescent, Banff, had 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the offence happened on November 10 last year. The legal limit is 22mcg.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend told the court a neighbour had seen Stuart behind the wheel of his ex-partner’s black Volkswagen, driving up and down the street at about 1am.
She left her house and encouraged him to get out the car, but contacted the police when he refused – describing him as “slumped” in his seat and “slurring his words”.
When PC Graeme Smith arrived, he parked on Seafield Crescent in an attempt to block the road and stop Stuart from escaping.
But Stuart responded by revving his engine and driving forward towards PC Smith’s car, before suddenly stopping and reversing away.
Mr Townsend said that PC Smith got out and walked towards Stuart to reason with him, but he again drove his car “directly” towards the officer and swore at him.
When back-up arrived, Stuart began “spinning his front wheels and accelerating towards the officers” who both leapt out the way.
Mr Townsend said Stuart’s car came to a halt “where the officers had been stood just moments before,” as they sheltered in a nearby garden and behind a garage door.
While again reversing at speed away from the officers, Stuart suddenly stalled his car and ran from the car.
PC Smith and PC Colin Taylor chased him on foot, and arrested him.
Defence agent Lynne Bentley told the court that Stuart had been drinking as his relationship was in the “dying days” and that “matters had escalated”.
She added her client wished he had taken his neighbour’s advice when first told to get out the car.
Sheriff Morag McLaughin deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports, but disqualified Stuart from driving in the meantime. The case will call again next month.
