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Car deliberately driven towards police vehicle in Inverness incident





Sheriff Sara Matheson heard details of the case at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Sara Matheson heard details of the case at Inverness Sheriff Court.

A man was involved in a car chase through city streets after giving an officer a false name and address.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told the drama began when a police officer on foot patrol in an Inverness housing estate became suspicious when he saw three men quickly leave a block of flats.

The constable went to speak to one of them on the morning of November 1 last year as he didn't recognise him and asked for his details as he had glazed eyes and was nervously holding a box wrapped in paper.

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The court was told the man said his name was Paul Roberts and gave an address, but the officer made a check and no trace was found.

Fiscal depute Pauline Gair told Sheriff Sara Matheson that “Paul Roberts” was actually Jack Woolerton (25) of Parbrook Road, Liverpool: "The man kept changing accents between Scottish and Liverpudlian and the officer suspected he had been given false details and called for back-up."

Woolerton ran off down Oldtown Road, Inverness chased by the PC who managed to apprehend him.

"But because he was struggling so much, the constable activated his emergency button and a number of police units were dispatched," Mrs Gair said.

A Kia Ceed car passed the pair, driven by Jordan Kerr (40), of Wiggin Street, Liverpool, who appeared with Woolerton in court this week.

It came to an abrupt stop before reversing at speed towards the PC.

"It came to a stop a few feet from him and Woolerton and Kerr left the vehicle,” Mrs Gair continued.

“PC Macleod drew his PAVA spray as a deterrent and let go his grip on Woolerton who managed to get away into the car and Kerr then drove away at excessive speed, almost colliding with a parked vehicle.

"He drove the vehicle from Mackay Road into Cauldeen Road with its hazard lights on.

“Police activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle.

“However Kerr drove it directly towards the police car with a clear intention of not stopping and it swerved on to Culduthel Road without checking for other road users, narrowly avoiding a collision with the police vehicle."

Sheriff Matheson was told that the car was traced a short distance away but there was no sign of the two occupants.

The PC was able to identify both and they were later arrested.

Kerr previously admitted dangerous driving and Woolerton pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

A background report had already been called for on Kerr and Sheriff Matheson deferred sentence on Woolerton until October 29 for a report on him. Their bail was continued.


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