A 23 year-old who got into a car chase with police ended up crashing his BMW then ran away.

Police traced the culprit and his girlfriend by finding the leftovers of a McDonald's and checking CCTV at the fast food chain.

Robbie Grieve, 23, of Castle Avenue, Crosshill admitted that on December 13, in Cowdenbeath, he did drive whilst being followed by a marked police car, drive at excessive speed, drive on the opposite side of the carriageway, failed to slow down and whilst being pursued by a marked police car with sirens and lights did drive at excessive speed and did loose control of the car and collide with a traffic sign.

He also admitted that he drove the vehicle without a driver's licence and without motor insurance.

Depute fiscal, Claire Bremner, told Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday that a police officer started following the vehicle at 3.05am heading towards Crossgates.

He checked to find the BMW belonged to someone in Perth and had no insurance.

"There was an increase in speed as the driver became aware of police presence," she added.

"The officer requested back up at Woodend Place and as the car turned on to Main Street it hit a speed of 60 mph in a 40mph zone.

"The car then crossed over to the opposing carriageway and back up took a static position. At Stenhouse Street the BWM failed to stop or slow at the junction and that is when police activated their lights.

"The accused manoeuvred past another stationary police vehicle. He braked heavily and the car mounted on to a grass verge and collided into a speed restriction sign.

"The driver and a female passenger got out and ran off into a wooded area."

The female traced was Kayleigh Webster who was viewed with the driver on CCTV footage.

Grieve was arrested at Dunfermline Police Station and said: "I should have stopped".

Defence solicitor, Alexander Flett, said: "Police did not signal him to stop until Cowdenbeath. He saw the police and panicked.

"It was at 3am and there's no reference to other traffic or pedestrians present."

The solicitor explained that Grieve had bought the vehicle because it was cheap and he was going to sell it on to make a profit.

Sheriff Charles MacNair deferred his sentence for a restriction of liberty order assessment.