A DRUGGED-UP driver has been banned from the road after leading police on a high-speed chase around Clacks.

Ryan O'Shea drove through Kennet and Clackmannan at twice the speed limit before abandoning the tipper van and running off.

The 29-year-old was later tracked down hiding in a garden, Alloa Sheriff Court heard last week.

A sheriff slammed O'Shea's "atrocious" actions which had put the public in danger.

O'Shea, of Shanks Avenue, Denny, admitted that on August 31, 2019, on the A907, Mayfield Crescent, Clackmannan and elsewhere, he drove a van dangerously and under the influence of drugs.

The father-of-four entered the carriageway without indicating and when it was not safe to do, then drove at speeds of up to 60mph in 30mph zones.

Depute fiscal Susannah Hutchison said police on patrol came across a Ford Transit tipper van blocking the road next to the Gartarry roundabout.

When the police vehicle pulled alongside to see why it was stopped there, the driver, O'Shea, sped off.

He went around the roundabout twice before taking the Kennet turn-off without indicating when there were several other vehicles at the location.

He then sped through Kennet village and into Clackmannan, ignoring the 30mph limits and driving at up to 60mph.

He then drove up a one-way street, got out of the vehicle and ran off. He went to a house, asked to get in but was turned away.

The accused ran off again and a police dog was called in to track him down. He was later found hiding in a back garden.

A drugs test on O'Shea detected cocaine and other substances in his system.

Defence solicitor Kelly Howe said: "He had been drinking with his friend. When he said he wanted to go home his friend said he could take the van.

"He was very heavily intoxicated and it was a stupid decision to drive.

"He's deeply ashamed and embarrassed about this."

She added that O'Shea has had to find a new job because of losing his licence.

Sheriff Neil Bowie told O'Shea: "This was an atrocious piece of driving: driving a tipper van in your intoxicated condition, speeding through these communities.

"Anyone out in the street at the time, drivers, pedestrians, children were put at risk."

He also noted that O'Shea had twice been banned previously for careless driving.

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with 250 hours of unpaid work, 18 months of supervision and a 90-day restriction of liberty order.

He also banned O'Shea from driving for 36 months and until he passes the extended test