A YOUNG man led police on a high-speed chase across the Central Belt for almost an hour, a court has heard.

Declan Stuart started his day by breaking into a Clydebank deli before being spotted by cops undertaking drivers in a bus lane across the country in Edinburgh.

He then made them follow him back west to Bellshill where he was only stopped by a dead end before trying to make off by foot.

The 20-year-old has now been locked up, having been told there was no choice despite his young age.

He appeared from custody at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing after admitting to a day of chaos on August 20.

Starting early, around 5.45am, a witness leaving for work noticed Stuart and others in dark clothing trying to open the shutters of Deli-Licious in Dumbarton Road.

There was a loud bang and the shutters had been forced open. The men ran away and made off in a Volkswagen Golf.

Police were contacted but they didn't trace the accused.

Then at 12.05pm, police in an unmarked car were driving east on Glasgow Road in Edinburgh when they saw a car driving directly ahead of them.

Stuart was queuing in traffic when he used the bus lane on St John's Road to undertake several vehicles at speed. He then slammed on his breaks in an attempt to re-enter the correct lane.

Fiscal depute Euan Nicholson said police signalled for the driver to pull over "planning to speak to him and give advice on the manner of driving".

"However, he didn't stop and this was the start of the long pursuit," said the prosecutor.

The car made off east and hit speeds in excess of 65mph, undertaking several vehicles, weaving in and out of traffic.

Stuart, of Faifley Road, Clydebank, hit a red light at the junction with Balgreen Road, which he ignored, forcing pedestrians waiting to cross to take evasive action.

He turned on to Stevenson Drive, still at speeds estimated to be around 90mph.

The car negotiated a roundabout at 85mph and then continued to weave through traffic as it approached a roundabout.

He slowed down with the roads busy with traffic and "police thought this might be the end of the pursuit" but again the driver made off.

He took the Calder Road junction on to the M8, and used the hard shoulder to undertake an HGV.

After half a mile, Stuart started to slow down and police again thought the chase might end. He almost came to a stop, then made off and soon hit speeds of up to 100mph.

Again he was using the hard shoulder to avoid preceding traffic, which was heavy on the motorway.

The pursuit continued until Stuart exited onto the A725 at Bellshill and then onto Hamilton Road.

Approaching a roundabout at speed, he clipped it and slowed down, but still failed to stop.

He drove on Hamilton Road at speeds of 60mph despite being busy with members of the public in the residential area who had to take evasive action.

There were several police units including a helicopter in pursuit.

Still driving at speeds of 60mph, Stuart ended up in Lochet Yett View and hit a bollard in a dead end.

He tried to make off on foot chased by police and was eventually caught and arrested.

The court was told the chase ended about 55 minutes after it first started.

Stuart pleaded guilty the next day to breaking into the deli, to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and without insurance. He was on bail from Glasgow Sheriff Court at the time.

His defence solicitor accepted the charges were "clearly of a serious nature" in the hearing on October 15.

"He reflected on his actions when on remand and recognises the serious risk to members of the public," she said. "He regrets his behaviour."

The solicitor said he was concerned about the impact of his offending on his young child.

"He is looking to the future," she added. "He wants to play a positive part in his [child's] life. He is suitable for a non-custodial sentence."

Sheriff Seith Ireland said national sentencing guidelines say custody should be avoided because of his age.

But he said Stuart already had a conviction for dangerous driving. And the August crime "was a particularly serious chase over an extended geographical extent on roads in built-up areas".

"Not withstanding your age, there's no other disposal appropriate other than custody given the gravity of the offending and the record of the accused," he concluded.

Stuart was detained for a total of six months, backdated to August 21.

He was banned from driving for two years and will have to sit the extended test to get a licence back.