Police pursuit teenager detained

Perth Sheriff Court heard Sutherland drove for 60 miles

A Moray teenager who led police on a high-speed chase for almost 60 miles along the A9 has been given a custodial sentence and banned from driving.

John Sutherland, from Dyke, drew the attention of officers when he ran through red lights outside Perth police station in the early hours of 29 June.

Police eventually had to burst the 19-year-old's tyres to stop him.

Sutherland was locked up for three months and given a three-year driving ban. He was ordered to resit his test.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that he was pursued through the centre of the town before heading north on the A9.

'Dangerous enough'

He then ran through a police roadblock and kept going at speeds of up to 100mph, overtaking several vehicles on blind bends before officers used a Stinger - a spiked mat - to stop his car at Dalwhinnie.

When searched the accused was found to be in possession of a bag of cannabis.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher told Sutherland: "This is the kind of driving that causes tragedy after tragedy on our roads.

"It caused serious danger in Perth and serious danger on the A9, which is a dangerous enough road.

"I am driven to the conclusion that the only way I can deal with this case is by a custodial sentence."