MOBILE police patrols were ordered not to pursue a 20-year-old motorist on two occasions in the Borders for fear it would lead to an accident.

John Wood from Coldstream pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

He admitted the first offence in High Street, Galashiels, on August 23 by driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street and mounting a kerb to swerve round a police vehicle blocking the road before driving off at excessive speed and failing to stop when requested to do so by police.

The second offence happened on September 30 on the A6105 road and in Market Square, Duns, where he drove at excessive speed, failed to stop when required to do so by marked police vehicles and failed to give way at a roundabout.

READ MORE: Borderers urged to make sure they are registered to vote in local elections

Depute fiscal Joanna Waller said that on both occasions police officers were told to stop pursuing Wood by their control room due to the accident fear and he eventually went out of sight.

He was tracked down in Market Square in Duns on the evening of October 1.

In reply to the first charge he said: "Yes, sorry that was me. I don't know what I was thinking."

In reply to the second charge he said: "Yes I know. I am sorry."

Asked for his version of events in court, the fish factory worker said: "I did not know it was the wrong way. Every time I saw the blue lights I panicked."

Wood was banned from driving for one year and ordered to resit his driving test. He was also fined £600 with a £40 Victim Surcharge."