Banned driver is jailed after terrifying chase

Oct 30 2008

A DISQUALIFIED Netherburn driver who stole a car before leading police on a high-speed chase has been jailed for eight months.

John McMahon, of Overton Road, was also over the drink-drive limit when police stopped him in Hamilton’s Campbell Street.

McMahon stole the vehicle from Annabella Road in the village on September 23 and drove on a number of roads in Larkhall, Ferniegair and Hamilton.

He was stopped by police in Campbell Street at about 9pm that day.

McMahon (21) 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.

McMahon then 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 driving with no insurance.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week, Sheriff Danny Scullion jailed him for eight months for the driving offences.

He also disqualified McMahon from driving for three years and ordered him sit an extended driving test after that period.

On the same day at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Sheriff Joyce Powrie jailed McMahon for two months for another offence.

On May 22, at Craignethan Crescent, Netherburn, McMahon climbed onto the bonnet of a car and smashed the windscreen of the vehicle with a piece of wood.

Sheriff Powrie stated the sentence should run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, meaning McMahon was jailed for a total of 10 months.

The Netherburn man has a string of previous convictions which include a disqualification from driving in November 2003 and attempting to steal a car in August this year.