A DANGEROUS and disqualified driver nearly hit a pedestrian amid a high-speed chase with police.
Jason Haswell twice managed to escape officers before he was apprehended at Irvine's Job Centre.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to six charges when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.
He admitted two offences of dangerous driving, three concerning driving whilst disqualified and another of resisting, obstructing or hindering police.
The incidents took place across three separate days, with the first occurring on May 6 this year, prosecutor Fraser Alexander told the court.
Shortly before 1pm that day police had been driving on the A71 near Dreghorn when a fast-moving vehicle, driven by Haswell, approached behind them.
They allowed it to overtake and then followed as it was travelling at approximately 85mph - in excess of the 70mph limit.
Mr Alexander added: "As they approached the roundabout police activated their lights and indicated for the vehicle to take the first exit.
"The accused [Haswell] did not comply and instead took the fourth exit onto Towerlands Road and into Dreghorn."
The offender continued onto Main Street where he continued to ignore requests to pull over.
He drove through a red light, overtaking a stationary vehicle by driving on the wrong side of the road whilst doing so.
Haswell turned onto Dundonald Road travelling at 50mph before he manoeuvred into The Glebe, then Iona Court.
"As he turned onto the street a pedestrian had to take evasive action to avoid a collision," Mr Alexander continued.
The prosecutor stated that Iona Court was a dead-end street. Haswell exited his vehicle there but avoided capture following a foot chase.
Officers later discovered that Haswell was disqualified from driving.
A further incident took place on May 18 when police saw a motorcycle parked on Irvine's High Street.
Haswell was seen walking towards the bike with officers approaching to speak to him before he ran down a lane away from them.
He was not caught, and upon returning to High Street, police found that the vehicle was no longer parked there.
CCTV footage was later viewed and showed that Haswell, who was still disqualified, had made off on the bike at speed.
He overtook numerous stationary vehicles, ran a red light and drove through the middle of a painted roundabout.
Haswell was eventually apprehended on May 20 when he attended the Job Centre in Irvine.
Police were made aware of this and attended with two officers entering to arrest him. A struggle ensued, which saw a female officer knocked to the ground, causing injury to her hand.
Officers stationed nearby were then called to assist with Haswell then detained.
CCTV footage was then viewed which showed the disqualified driver had arrived at his meeting on his motorbike.
Defending, solicitor Peter Murray explained that Haswell had been working within the building industry before becoming involved in the misuse of drugs and was unemployed at the time of the offences.
The lawyer added that the Irvine man is currently serving a 42-month sentence in relation to other matters with an earliest current release date of August 10 next year.
Mr Murray continued: “There is no explanation for his driving, he was aware of his disqualification and aware of the consequences of any decision to drive.
“He was aware of the likelihood of a custodial sentence, but he did so anyway. He understands and accepts the consequences.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart said: “You shouldn’t be on the road. When you are on the road, you are a danger to people.
“You knew exactly what you were doing and what the consequences would be.”
Haswell was ordered to spend 33 months in prison, with the sentence to commence upon the expiry of his current jail term.
As he was led away from the dock, Haswell apologised to the court police officer - who was the same female constable injured during his arrest.
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