TWO men were arrested last weekend following a daring high-speed car chase through Tillicoultry and Coalsnaughton.

Sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning, (7-8 August) the duo were traced by police as they were travelling at speed through the High Street and down Moss Road before later leading officers through farmland at Gartenkeir Farm.

After being arrested, the driver was charged with a string of road traffic offences, while it later transpired that the passenger was a fugitive wanted in connection with an assault in Clackmannan just days before.

Both men appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Monday (10 August) where the driver, Gary Thomson, pleaded guilty to half the charges against him and was released on bail.

The 22-year-old, from Eden Road, Alloa, admitted to driving without a full licence and valid insurance, in a car that had no MOT.

He also accepted that he drove at excessive speeds, failed to stop and give way at junctions, crossed the central lines of the carriageway into the oncoming lane, repeatedly failed to indicate, and drove across fields and farmlands.

Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas in respect of Thomson taking the car from a property in Tullibody without permission, failing to stop when asked to by police, and three counts of failing to ensure proper good working order of the car’s lights.

Meanwhile, the passenger tendered a plea of not guilty to all the charges laid against him but was remanded in custody.

In respect of the car chase, he was charged with failing to wear a seatbelt and attempting to pervert the course of justice by failing to give his details to the police.

However, he also appeared on a separate complaint relating to an assault in Castle Street, Clackmannan the week before.

It is alleged he first broke the conditions of his bail by being in contact with a woman he was banned from being in contact with, on 4 August.

And according to the court papers, he is further accused of assaulting a man by repeatedly punching him on the head, to his injury.

Finally, on 5 August on Castle Street, it is alleged he was in possession of an offensive weapon, namely a cosh, or truncheon.

During Monday’s hearing, the depute fiscal in court opposed bail for the accused, arguing he would be highly likely to offend if at liberty.

He said he had five convictions for ignoring court orders and seven offences on his record which were aggravated by a breach of bail.

Sheriff Eric Brown, presiding, agreed with the fiscal’s submissions and remanded the accused in custody.

The 21-year-old, from Alva, will remain behind bars until his trial, scheduled for 15 September.

Sentencing on Thomson has also been deferred for criminal justice social work reports and the case will also recall on 15 September.