A CAIRNEYHILL driver crashed his car after speeding through built-up areas in a bid to escape from a pursuing police patrol car.

Kevin Vernie then refused to take a breath test after the accident, which resulted in his car being written off.

Vernie tried to evade a police patrol speeding through Crossford and Cairneyhill before hitting a barrier at a roundabout. He later claimed he had only been drinking non-alcohol drinks.

Vernie, 46, of Station Road, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court having previously admitted two charges.

On September 23, at Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline; Main Street, Crossford; and on the A994 Crossford to Cairneyhill road, he drove a car dangerously by failing to stop when requested to do so by police in a marked vehicle displaying blue flashing lights and thereafter accelerated at speeds in excess of 60mph within residential areas, lost control of the vehicle and collided with a metal barrier.

He also admitted that at Dunfermline police station, he failed to provide two breath specimens for analysis.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said that just before driving, his client had been head-butted in a kebab shop and was in an “agitated state”.

He added: “He slowed down, thought about stopping, then sped off, then crashing into the roundabout. He was feeling sorry for himself but he can’t really explain why he drove off from the police.”

The solicitor said his client had planned to become a taxi driver but had to hand back his licence because of this offence.

Sheriff James MacDonald commented that if Vernie’s claims about not drinking alcohol were true then his actions were “self-destructive”.

He imposed a community payback order with one year’s supervision and 160 hours of unpaid work.

Vernie was also banned from driving for 24 months and until he passes the extended test.