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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Police helicopter scrambled to track stolen van in 'movie-like' high speed chase in Lanarkshire

A high speed chase "like something out of a movie" ended with a police helicopter tracking down the driver of a stolen van.

Stephen Weeks abandoned the vehicle on playing fields in Kilmarnock and was seen jumping over garden fences as he tried to escape.

The 15-mile pursuit had started in Moor Road, Eaglesham.

Weeks, 29, of Loreny Drive, Kilmarnock, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week and admitted driving dangerously on June 12 last year.

He also admitted possession of the van, stolen from outside a house in Kirkton Place, East Kilbride, a short time earlier.

Mairi-Clare McMillan, prosecuting, said a resident saw his works van being reversed out of its parking space late at night and contacted the police.

He was told to activate a tracking device and this allowed officers to locate the vehicle in Eaglesham.

The fiscal stated: "Two vehicles were travelling in convoy and one stopped for the police, but the van didn't.

"The accused reversed at high speed in an attempt to ram the police vehicle before driving off along Moor Road on to the A77 and then the M77.

"He reached speeds of 90 miles an hour, even on a stretch where there were roadworks, and was still doing 70-80 miles an hour in an area of Kilmarnock where the speed limit is 30.

"Travelling through roadworks in Kilmarnock town centre, he hit a number of traffic cones, causing them to scatter across the road.

"The accused showed no signs of slowing down and continued toward the Shortlees area.

"He entered an industrial estate then drove on to playing fields and abandoned the van while it was still moving.

"Police were directed by the force helicopter to Langside Drive where he was seen jumping over fences towards housing. He was then arrested."

Defence agent Kieran Dean said dad-of-one Weeks has a full time job and is in a stable relationship.

The lawyer added: "He suffers from depression and at the time of these offences had stopped taking medication. He panicked when the police became involved."

Weeks admitted previous convictions and the court heard he has been given a community payback order on three occasions.

Sheriff John Speir told the accused he was willing to impose another CPO as an alternative to prison.

The sheriff said: "Your driving could well have resulted in serious injury to other people as well as you.

"What took place reads like something out of a sensational movie. It was quite extraordinary."

Weeks was fined £1475, placed under supervision for two years and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.

The sheriff banned him from driving for 14 months and said he must resit his test.

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