A driver who led police on a high-speed pursuit through the East End of Glasgow was told he ‘could have killed someone’ by a sheriff.

Stephen Coyle, 40, of Gilshochill, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court recently after pleading guilty to two charges.

He admitted to dangerous driving and being in charge of a car when the proportion of Benzoylecgonine – a chemical that is produced when cocaine is broken down by the body – in his blood was 125 microgrammes per litre, exceeding the 50 microgramme limit.

The court heard that at midday on February 6, police spotted a Vauxhall Corsa in North Glasgow and noted that despite the car being insured by a woman, it was being driven by a man (Coyle).

Officers had cause to stop the vehicle but it failed to do so and turned onto Hamiltonhill Road, making off at excessive speed before being lost from sight on Ellesmere Street.

Cops attended at the home address of the registered keeper and whilst outside saw the car on Tollcross Road.

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On seeing police the vehicle U-turned before making off at speed.

Officers followed in pursuit and the vehicle turned left onto Ogilvie Street – which has a speed limit of 30mph - at 60mph.

The car is noted to have reached 76mph and travelled through a red traffic light narrowly avoiding collision with another vehicle.

Coyle later turned onto Duke Street driving on the wrong side of the road overtaking stationary traffic.

At this stage, police withdrew due to the speeds Coyle was travelling at.

The car was then found again and the pursuit continued.

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Eventually, police engaged in tactical contact by placing their vehicle in front of Coyle’s. He collided with them causing extensive damage to both vehicles and bringing the chase to an end.

A roadside drug test was carried out which Coyle failed. He was taken to London Road police station where he was cautioned and charged and made no reply.

Coyle’s lawyer told the court that his client had “panicked” on seeing police.

The defence solicitor said: “It is concerning that this was a chase that carried on for some time when it could have come to an end.

“He simply panicked given the vehicle wasn’t his and there was no insurance. He is man enough to accept it is his fault.”

Addressing Coyle, Sheriff Collete Gallagher stated: “The speed at which you were driving and the fact you went through three red lights indicates just how reckless you were.

“You could have killed someone quite easily driving through red lights at that speed.”

Sheriff Gallagher placed Coyle on a community payback order with 18 months of social work supervision and 240 hours of unpaid work.

Coyle was also tagged, keeping him indoors from 7pm to 7am for nine months as well as being disqualified from driving for three years.