Police spotted Steven Connolly driving his yellow moped at excessive speeds, weaving in and out of traffic on the town’s High Street.

The 22-year-old caused other motorists to swerve and grind to a halt in an attempt to avoid crashing as he raced along the street, failing to stop for police.

At this point marked police were flashing their lights and signalling for the Dumbarton driver to stop. Instead he raced along High Street leading police onto Station Road, before turning onto Riverside Lane.

But Connolly, who was released from jail in England last May after serving over three years, was far from finished, dragging the pursuing police onto Quay Street and racing through a red light.

Police continued to give chase, but lost sight as he turned into an industrial estate. But as luck would have it, police caught up with the tearaway on the A814 at which point he lost control of the moped and came to a stop on the pavement.

Connolly, of Keil Crescent, Brucehill, and his passenger parted ways, continuing their efforts to evade officers on foot, before being caught.

Mr Dykes, defending, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court his client suffered from attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy, and was in a ‘hyper’ state when this happened.

Mr Dykes produced a letter from a clinical specialist and a GP highlighting Connolly’s problems and learning difficulties, adding that he ‘attends a psychiatrist’ in relation to his ADHD.

His solicitor said: “He had a provisional license and did take a course of lessons, but didn’t sit his test. That was in 2009. His friend gave him use of the moped on this occasion.

“He accepts he shouldn’t have done it and is apologetic about it.” In an attempt to sway Sheriff Marie McTaggart from sending his client to jail, Mr Dykes explained it had been a difficult time for him with the death of his uncle, who had died recently in ‘tragic circumstances’ at just 39.

“This has had a big impact on his grandmother and he visits her daily to comfort her. He had a close relationship with his uncle too. He has been of good behaviour other than this incident.” Sheriff McTaggart fined Connolly a total of £335 in relation to this matter and disqualified him from driving or obtaining a licence for 18 months. Connolly laughed to himself as the sentence was handed down.