Funeral car thief, 17, locked up

Townsley stole the funeral car and crashed into a telegraph pole

A teenager who stole a funeral car and led police on a high speed chase before crashing into a telegraph pole in Perth has been locked up for six months.

Sammy Townsley, 17, from Buckie in Moray, drove at speeds of up to 60mph in the limousine, which he took from outside an undertakers on 24 April.

He eventually crashed into a barrier and the pole, leaving his passenger unconscious at the roadside.

Townsley has been convicted of more than a dozen offences since turning 16.

The funeral car, which was stolen from James McEwan and Sons in Perth in the early hours of the morning, was written off and Townsley and his passenger Kris Orton were treated for injuries.

At Perth Sheriff Court, Townsley, from Binview Road, Buckie, admitted taking the Mercedes limousine and driving dangerously in Isla Road, Perth, and on the A93 Perth to Blairgowrie road.

You must learn you cannot carry on this way Sheriff Michael Fletcher

The learner driver also admitted driving at excessive speed and repeatedly swerving on to the opposite carriageway while failing to stop for police officers, before crashing.

He further admitted driving without the proper licence and without displaying L plates.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "He doesn't really have a good explanation - if there could be such a thing - as to why the vehicle was taken.

"He saw a black limousine and did not realise it belonged to the funeral company. It was a large vehicle for a large number of passengers and as such was more powerful than anything he had driven before, which may explain some of the driving.

"He has had eight driving lessons - but never in a vehicle that size."

Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: "Your young age makes it particularly extraordinary that you have a record the length of the one you have.

"You must learn you cannot carry on this way."

Townsley was also banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to sit the extended driving test.

Mr Orton, 23, was also arrested and charged after he recovered consciousness, but has since been given a procurator fiscal's release.