A DISQUALFIED driver who tried to flee from police when he was stopped near Crossgates has been jailed.

Peter McLaren, 36, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday after previously admitting that he drove while disqualified on October 13 at various roads namely the A92 westbound between Cowdenbeath and Crossgates and Crossgates Road, Halbeath.

He also drove without insurance. Both offences were committed while he was on bail.

Depute fiscal, Dev Kapadia, said police officers were on mobile patrol shortly before 6pm when a PNC check identified a silver Chrysler Voyager car as having no insurance.

He initially didn't stop, appearing not to see the blue lights, but then spotted them and came off the A92 at the Crossgates roundabout.

He said he was unaware he had no insurance and was asked to take a seat in the back of the police vehicle.

"At that point, he jumped over a barrier and ran down the embankment towards the M90," said Mr Kapadia. 2

"The police officers were described as being in hot pursuit. He then ran across the northbound carriageway of the M90, across the central reservation and across the southbound carriageway. Both of the police officers kept up with the accused and he was apprehended after he had ran up the opposite embankment over a fence and into a field."

Solicitor, Alexander Flett, said his client had panicked because he was disqualified and ran away.

"He regrets he shouldn't have done it and he regrets his actions," he added.

Sheriff Charles Macnair said McLaren had been disqualified from driving for six months in the Justice of the Peace Court on October 2.

He told him: "Less than two weeks later, you decided that you would ignore that order and drive. Why you did that is really neither here nor there. It was not a case where there was some kind of pressing emergency and, of course, this offence was committed whilst you were on on bail.

"You have a record of driving while disqualified. Although it is some time ago, you can not have forgotten how seriously the Court takes such an offence. In my view, there is no appropriate alternative to a custodial sentence having regard to your record and the very short period since you were disqualified."

Sheriff Macnair jailed McLaren for five months and banned him from driving for 20 months. He also fined him £500 for the no insurance charge, however, his solicitor asked for no time to pay and he was jailed for a further 14 days instead.