A DANGER driver who tore through residential streets in Gourock at 'grossly excessive speeds' whilst being pursued by police has been spared a prison sentence.

Andrew Boyd — who also risked a head-on smash with a bus — was in the grip of alcohol and drug addiction 'issues' when he sparked a blue light chase through the town.

The provisional licence holder 'swerved' his Vauxhall Corsa into a perilous overtake and only avoided a high impact collision because the driver of the bus was forced into a screeching halt.

Instead of jail, Boyd, of Wren Road in Greenock, has been placed on a community payback order.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told a sentencing hearing at the sheriff court: "At the outset one has to recognise that this is a serious matter.

"Mr Boyd recognises the potential harm that could have been caused not only to himself, but also to the public.

"Thankfully, this did not transpire, perhaps through luck and good fortune.

"He took the car for a particular purpose because at the time there were addiction issues."

Mr Gallagher added: "There is no dispute taken with the Crown narrative.

"Mr Boyd has, since this incident, taken fairly substantial strides away from the lifestyle he had in relation to alcohol and also illicit substances.

"He has been free from illicit substances for two years."

Police tailed Boyd after spotting him mounting a pavement whilst negotiating a left-hand turn at speed onto Fife Road in the Larkfield area.

The chase took in several streets in both Greenock and Gourock, including Eldon Street, Earnhill Road, Larkfield Road, George Road, Mathie Crescent, Drumshantie Road, Broomberry Drive, Kirn Drive, King Street and Cardwell Road.

Boyd had been accused of driving along the central reservation on Drumshantie Road and driving at excessive speed next to a children's play area, however, these allegations were removed from the charge as part of a guilty plea brokered by solicitor Mr Gallagher.

A not guilty plea to a charge of Boyd having allegedly taken the silver-coloured Corsa from Kelly Street without its owner's consent or lawful authority was also accepted by the Crown.

Prosecutor Andrew Brown told the court: "At Cardwell Road the accused straddled the dividing line whilst travelling at grossly excessive speed before swerving onto the opposing carriageway to overtake another road user.

"He swerved back to the correct side of the carriageway, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a single decker bus, and this only due to the bus driver braking harshly to a stop.

"Police were told to stand down by the area control room."

Boyd committed the offences on November 6 2020.

Sheriff James Varney told Boyd: "You are no stranger to custody. I've listened carefully to what Mr Gallagher has said on your behalf and taken into account the age of the offence and the efforts you have made in the intervening period.

"It still requires to be marked seriously."

Boyd has been ordered to complete 162 hours of unpaid work and he will be under social work supervision for a period of two years as a direct alternative to prison.

He has also been fined £720 and banned from the roads for 34 months.