Police rammed car to end 130mph car chase on A9 through Badenoch
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Police chased a car for eight miles at speeds of up to 130mph on the A9 through Badenoch and only stopped it by puncturing its tyres and ramming it.
The high-speed pursuit began at 10.30pm on a rainy March 9, last year, near Crubenmore when officers on a mobile patrol saw David McDonough’s VW Scirocco racing along the road.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard earlier today that one police vehicle took two and a half miles before gaining ground on the 28 year old Liverpool provisional licence holder.
But when the blue lights were activated, McDonough of Escort Close, Halewood did not stop.
Officers then had to pursue him for another four miles before entering traffic controlled road works which had reduced the road to a single carriageway.
However, McDonough ignored the police following him, drove through a red light and second police vehicle was alerted ahead to try and stop him.
Those officers placed the spiked tyre deflation system on the road and it burst three of McDonough’s tyres. However he continued on his journey, mounted the off-side verge and passed through another set of lights.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said the police vehicle ahead then tried to slow him down but he swerved across the road several times before mounting the near-side verge.
It was then that the police vehicles struck his car at the front and rear to sandwich him in between and prevent McDonough carrying on. The chase ended by Kingussie.
A later saliva test proved positive for cannabis but the alcohol breath test was negative.
“McDonough was taken to Burnett Road Police Station in Inverness to provide a blood test, but refused after initially agreeing, claiming he had a fear of needles,” Ms Poke added.
The fork lift truck operative appeared for sentence before Sheriff Margaret Neilson after admitting dangerous driving, failing driving with no licence or insurance and failing to provide a blood sample.
He was jailed for 11 months and banned from driving for three years.
His solicitor Patrick O’Dea told the court his client was prepared for custody and conceded it was ‘a perfect example of atrocious driving at the high end of the dangerous scale. And he had a passenger with him’.
Sheriff Neilson said: “It was shocking. He already has eight endorsements on his licence so he clearly has no regard for road traffic laws. He is lucky he didn’t kill himself or someone else.
“The background report says he was coming to the Highlands for a holiday break. Driving on the A9 in dark wet conditions in the way you were driving will not be tolerated.
“This court sadly has to deal with cases of dangerous driving which have had more serious consequences.
“There is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
