A LEARNER driver who led police on a high speed chase for several miles has been banned from the road.

Luke Paul McGregor, 17, of Allars Bank in Hawick, was spotted by officers driving in Scott Crescent, Galashiels, on June 20 with defective headlights shortly after midnight.

As they followed him past Netherdale and out the Melrose Road towards the Lowood Bridge, McGregor mounted the kerb, went onto the opposite side of the carriageway when it was not safe to do so and went through a red light at the bridge at high speeds before losing control of the vehicle and striking a fence.

It emerged he was only a provisional licence holder, not displaying L plates and had no insurance.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court, Sheriff John Halley said it was a serious incident adding: “This was a danger to the public at large with this act of folly which was effectively a police chase.” Sentence was deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court for the production of a Criminal Justice Social Work Report until August 17 and an interim disqualification from driving was imposed.