JOYRIDER (15) WITH CAR FULL OF FRIENDS HIT 100MPH IN POLICE CHASE THROUGH FIFE

A 15-year-old boy took friends on a joyride through Fife in a stolen car with the police in hot pursuit.

The boy hit speeds of 100mph as he sped down the M90, through Dunfermline into the West Fife villages in the early hours of the morning, going through a red light on his way.

He ended up in Abernethy, near Perth, running off from the abandoned vehicle with his friends until they were tracked down by police dogs.

The car, which at times during the journey was occupied by up to eight people, belonged to a 78-year-old man and had been stolen before.

The thief, a friend of the joy-rider, had kept hold of a spare key to the vehicle and the youngsters decided to take it again.

The driver, now aged 16 and from the Cowdenbeath area, cannot be named for legal reasons.

He appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing.

He admitted that on 17th January at Arthur Place, Cowdenbeath, he took and drove away a car without the consent of the owner.

He then drove the car dangerously at grossly excessive speeds, turned off the headlights during hours of darkness and travelling at high speed, failed to comply with a red traffic light and failed to keep proper control.

The journey took in the M90 between Kelty and Dunfermline, Carnegie Avenue, Hospital Hill, Coal Road, William street, all Dunfermline.

Then on to the A907 through Gowkhall, Oakley, Kilbagie, the A977 Foresthill, Blairingone, Powmill, Crook of Devon, the M90 from junction six to nine at Bridge of Earn, the A912 and A913, Abernethy.

He also failed to stop for police.

Depute fiscal Amy Robertson said the vehicle was a Honda Jazz, which had been stolen previously by another 15-year-old boy.

He had taken a spare key and told his friends about this on the night in question when he was part of a group.

“The decision was made to take the vehicle and a number of young people were collected. There were eight occupants of the vehicle when it was being driven in the Dunfermline area at 3am,” said the depute.

A police officer on patrol in Kingseat signalled for the car to stop and activated his sirens but it sped off.

On the M90 the car was travelling at up to 100mph and going through built-up areas in Dunfermline it was hitting 75mph in streets with 30mph and 20mph limits.

The boy drove through a red light at Coal Road, then headed west through Gowkhall, Oakley and Blairhall, again hitting 100mph.

The police car continued to follow all the way to Abernethy where the youngster abandoned the car in a cul-de-sac and ran off with his companions.

The car rolled back and struck another police vehicle which had arrived with a dog unit.

The incident continued until around 5.30am when all the youngsters were tracked down with the help of the police dogs.

The boy told police, “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Sheriff Susan Duff imposed a community payback order with a year’s supervision and a two-year driving ban.