Edinburgh road menace led police on high-speed chase after driving at officer

An Edinburgh road menace has been jailed[1] for leading police on a high-speed chase after driving his car at a cop and forcing him to dive out of its path. Jye Slater hurtled through the streets of Edinburgh with officers[2] in pursuit, racing along at 60mph in 20mph areas. The 21-year-old, who had four previous convictions for dangerous driving[3], took off in the Vauxhall Astra after he was spotted breaking his bail curfew.

A constable who tried to detain him had to jump out of the Astra's way to avoid being knocked down while Slater also collided with a parked car. Dad-of-two Slater appeared from custody at the city's sheriff court on Wednesday and admitted a string of charges, including driving dangerously. The serial offender was jailed for 37 months and slapped with a 82 month driving ban.

Fiscal depute Matthew Miller said officers had been on mobile patrol in the Clermiston area when they spotted the Astra parked with its lights on at 10pm. The court heard Slater was in the car outside his address which violated a tagging order compelling him to remain at home between 7pm and 7am, reports the Record[6]. Slater reversed into a parked Skoda having spotted the officers, the court was told, causing damage to its front.

One of the two officers, Pc Ross Dunn, got out and showed his warrant card as Slater tried to manoeuvre to escape. Mr Miller said: "Mr Slater drove his vehicle toward Pc Dunn forcing him to jump backwards out of the way to avoid being struck." The officers pursued Slater in their police car through several streets in Clermiston where he travelled at speeds up to 60mph in 20mph areas. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here[7] and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

Slater later travelled at 70mph in a 40mph zone and police had to abandon the pursuit to protect public safety, Mr Miller added. The chase lasted around ten minutes. Defence agent Chris McFarlane said Slater had so far spent 202 days on remand after being detained over the incident which took place on March 14.

Mr McFarlane said his client was having a cigarette outside his home when he spotted police and "panicked" because he was breaching his bail. The solicitor added: "He is regretful of the way he conducted himself." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters[8] for more headlines straight to your inbox

Slater pled guilty to driving dangerously and attempting to strike Pc Dunn with the car. He also admitted charges including breaching bail, failing to stop at an accident, and driving while disqualified. The court heard Slater, who was being held at the capital's Saughton Prison, had twice been convicted of disqualified driving previously.

Sheriff Alison Stirling jailed Slater and told him he was a "young person with a very lengthy record".

References

1. ^ jailed (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
2. ^ officers (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
3. ^ dangerous driving (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
4. ^ Crash on major Edinburgh road as emergency services race to the scene (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
5. ^ Emergency services race to Edinburgh city centre blaze at historic Old Town building (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)
6. ^ Record (www.dailyrecord.co.uk)
7. ^ Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here (chat.whatsapp.com)
8. ^ Edinburgh Live newsletters (www.edinburghlive.co.uk)