A DRUNKEN and dangerous driver who nearly forced police off the road near Cardross has been locked up to await sentence.

Anthony McBride pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Tuesday to driving dangerously on the A814 between the village and Ardoch, and on various streets in Dumbarton, while over the legal alcohol limit.

The court heard that three police officers – a chief inspector and two sergeants – were travelling westbound towards Helensburgh on the afternoon of February 3 when they saw an eastbound Volkswagen Golf, with McBride at the wheel, heading directly towards them while overtaking another vehicle.

Kevin Doherty, prosecuting, said a collision was only narrowly avoided after the sergeant who was driving the police vehicle braked sharply.

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McBride then continued to overtake other vehicles as he headed towards Dumbarton, while the police vehicle did a U-turn and set off in pursuit.

The chase continued along residential streets in the Westcliff area and then again on the A814 through the town, with McBride reaching speeds of up to 60mph.

It eventually ended after McBride collided with a van near the junction with the town’s Silverton Avenue following attempts to overtake and undertake it, sending the van rolling over on to its side.

McBride tried to run away after the crash, but police soon caught him; he failed a breath test at the scene, and later supplied two breath samples with readings of 36 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The limit in Scotland is 22 microgrammes.

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Jonathan Paul, defending, said: “This was obviously a horrendous episode of driving. It seems to have been a moment of madness on Mr McBride’s part.”

“This has perhaps served as a wake up call to him and a chance for him to take stock of his situation.”

Deferring sentence for background reports, Sheriff Frances McCartney told McBride: “I consider this matter so serious that you should be remanded in custody for the preparation of those reports.”

McBride, of Swallow Road in the Faifley area of Clydebank, will be brought back to court for sentencing on December 20.

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