A BANNED driver caught for the 12th time behind the wheel tried to hide his face when passing a police car.

John Pratt, 45, was snared in his ex-wife’s Vauxhall Astra in Shettleston on May 5, 2020. He put his hand to his face to conceal his identity before being pursued by police.

The driver went at twice the speed limit and drove on the wrong side of the road before he was boxed in by officers.

READ MORE: Granddaughter robbed her 'trusting' gran, 74, of £1000 in year-long fraud

He pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. The latest charge is Pratt’s seventh dangerous driving conviction and his 12th for driving while disqualified.

The court heard officers clocked Pratt driving towards them after 9am on Shettleston Road.

Prosecutor Sarah Latta said: “As the cars passed one another, officers saw Pratt to put his right hand to the front of his face.

“It appeared that he was attempting to conceal his identity.”

Pratt sped off and was tracked by police to be doing over 50 and 60 miles an hour in 30mph zones.

Miss Latta added: “He was seen overtaking a vehicle at speed and was seen on another road driving on the wrong side.”

Pratt was later stopped by police where a check discovered that he was banned from driving until May 2024.

READ MORE: 'You may remain a danger to young women': Man jailed for raping two sleeping women in Glasgow

Lawyer, Manus Tolland, defending, told the court Pratt has no recollection of the incident and may have been suffering from coronavirus.

Sheriff Joan Kerr deferred sentence until next month for background reports and bailed Pratt, of Shettleston, meantime.

Sheriff Kerr said: “You have pled guilty to serious matters which are particularly serious given what I see in your previous convictions.”

Pratt was banned from driving again for an indefinite period.