A YOUNG man who fled cops in a speeding car narrowly avoided losing his licence.

Kyle Chrystal led police officers on a chase through Cambuslang.

Depute fiscal Victoria Keel told Glasgow Sheriff Court that around 8pm on May 29, 2020 police were on uniformed mobile patrol in the area when they noticed Chrystal's vehicle, a grey Audi A3 travelling at speed on Harvester Avenue.

Cops put on their patrol car's flashing lights and siren to stop Chrystal's car.

The 24-year-old eventually stopped the car but then activated the launch control facility on the vehicle, the court heard, and powered away from the police at high speed.

Police pursued him but he continued to travel at high speed, undertaking another vehicle on a blind bend.

Chrystal, from Rutherglen, then entered an off road, in development building site and drove through it.

Police stopped their vehicle as it was not safe to keep driving but they later found the vehicle on the building site with the doors locked and no one inside.

The next day Chrystal contacted police to say he had been driving when he had sped away from officers and later handed himself in at Rutherglen police station.

He told police there: "It was me" and was cautioned and charged.

Chrystal's defence lawyer told the court his client is a self-employed joiner who works for CALA Homes and would struggle to commute to work if he lost his licence.

The defence brief said: "He suffers from anxiety and depression and a close friend of his passed away shortly before this offence.

"He has been reintroduced to his biological dad and this has not had a good effect on him.

"When he returned home that night he explained matters to his family and he went to the police the next day."

The lawyer added that Chrystal already has seven penalty points and to be hit with five more would see him lose his licence.

Sheriff Charles Lugton gave Chrystal four penalty points and a £1000 fine.

He also placed him on a community payback order that will see him carry out 65 hours of unpaid work.