A DUNFERMLINE driver who was chased by police for almost 40 miles at speeds of up to 110mph had a missing pregnant teenager on board.

Shea Donnelly drove from Maryhill in Glasgow to Saline with officers in hot pursuit.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that police cars gave chase and a police helicopter was scrambled.

The pursuit ended at a farm in Saline where Donnelly stopped the car, jumped out and ran away.

He was apprehended minutes later by a farmer who took him to the waiting police.

The incident took place in January this year after Donnelly refused to pull over when ordered to do so by police.

His passenger was a 17-year-old girl, who was 20 weeks' pregnant and had been reported missing by her mother after failing to return home from a friend's house where she spent New Year's Eve.

When the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, failed to contact her mother, she was reported missing on January 5.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Donnelly, 20, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

The court heard he was driving a Vauxhall Corsa in Maryhill on January 9, was told to stop by officers, but raced off at speeds of 70-80mph in a 50mph zone.

Donnelly’s lawyer, David McLaughlin, said: “He got a fright because of his bail conditions.”

Prosecutor Lori Pidgeon said: “Donnelly overtook vehicles and failed to stop.

“Once he left the M8 motorway, he was driving at speeds of 110mph and using the hard shoulder to get away.”

He was followed into Gibsley Farm in Saline.

Miss Pidgeon added: “Donnelly left the vehicle but was driven back to the police by the farmer and arrested.”

Sheriff Alan Mackenzie deferred sentence for background reports until the end of this month.

Donnelly was granted bail and was disqualified from driving in the interim.