A 26-YEAR-OLD man who was ignoring a driving ban in Dunfermline tried to escape from pursuing police officers.

Jonathan Whyte drove at 80mph in Townhill Road but he was caught as he tried to run off after abandoning the car and has now been jailed.

Whyte, of East Street, St Monans, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court by video-link from prison.

He admitted that on October 22, in Townhill Road, Dunfermline, he failed to stop for police.

He also drove while disqualified and without insurance.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said that at 9.20pm, police received a report of car being driven erratically on the A92.

The car had turned off into Dunfermline and officers on mobile patrol spotted it near the police station.

There were three males and a female in the car. Police indicated for them to stop but the vehicle sped off up Townhill Road, hitting 80mph in a 30mph zone.

The car went into a side street and Whyte ran off before being apprehended by the officers.

He claimed initially he had not been the driver.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson commented that Whyte was a “persistent offender particularly for road traffic offences”.

He jailed Whyte for eight months and banned him from driving for two years.