'Extremely drunk' teen tried to ram police car in work van
An "extremely drunk" Dundee teenager tried to ram a police car with his work van on his 18th birthday.
Police had to use CS spray to incapacitate Paul Blair, who was three times the legal limit, after he crashed the van into a string of parked cars.
Blair was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard he had also been sacked from his job following the "spectacular mistake".
Blair first failed to stop for officers on Dundee's Balmerino Road.
The court heard that a witness heard a bang outside his home and looked outside to see a white van swerving across the road.
The man saw his car had been damaged and called police, who saw Blair trying to park the van and asked him to stop.
At that point Blair reversed the van at speed, colliding with three parked cars.
A police car positioned itself to stop him, but Blair then attempted to ram the vehicle.
Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin told the court: "The police car had been pulled up beside and positioned to prevent him moving any further.
"That's where the attempt came to ram the police car.
"This all took place at around 11pm."
Blair, 18, of Dundee, pleaded guilty to charges of failing to stop when required to do so by police, drink driving and dangerous driving. The offences were committed on 1 March.
Lisa Brown, defending, said: "This incident coincided with his 18th birthday.
"This was a works vehicle he was driving and he has obviously lost that employment now.
"It was a spectacular mistake."
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro banned Blair from driving for 20 months and placed him on a community payback order with 160 hours unpaid work.
She said: "You were three times the limit at the age of 18 - you must have been extremely drunk.
"You are aware I have to disqualify you for a lengthy period."