Car chase menace in stolen car was banned driver

Oct 2 2008

A DISQUALIFIED driver from Larkhall has admitted stealing a car before leading police on a high-speed chase.

John McMahon, of Overtown Road, stole the vehicle from Annabella Road in Netherburn on September 23.

He then drove on a number of roads in Larkhall, Ferniegair and Hamilton before he was stopped by police in Campbell Street, Hamilton, at about 9pm the same day.

McMahon has admitted a charge stating he drove at excessive speed and repeatedly failed to stop at red lights.

He swerved side to side across carriageways, forcing other cars and pedestrians to take evasive action to avoid being hit, the charge adds.

McMahon failed an alcohol breath test when he was stopped in Campbell Street.

He had 71 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres.

McMahon also admitted driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, the 21-year-old admitted five charges.

Sheriff Danny Scullion detained him in custody. McMahon will be sentenced on October 21.

The Larkhall man has a string of previous convictions.

He was disqualified from driving for the first time in November, 2003.

Then, on August 25 this year - a month before he led police on the high-speed chase - he was jailed for 10 weeks for attempting to steal a car. However, as he had already spent four-and-a-half-weeks in custody for the offence, he was let out of jail just three days later.