A RECKLESS driver hit more than 100 miles an hour on a high-speed chase through Helensburgh – with four passengers in his car.

Asad Raja was pursued by police after being spotted near Cardross – and officers who tried to catch him hit 100mph themselves and still weren’t able to keep up.

The 26-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing last Tuesday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Fiscal depute Heather Galbraith told the hearing that at 1.52am on December 30, 2020 police were on patrol on the A814 near Cardross when they spotted an Audi driving in the opposite direction.

Police attempted to follow it, but were unable to turn their vehicle, so contacted other officers on patrol. Police traced the car on West Clyde Street in Helensburgh and put on their blue lights and sirens.

The car immediately accelerated towards Rhu at 60mph in a 30mph area with police attempting to pursue behind.

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Further specialist road units were dispatched as police reached 80mph entering Rhu – but they were still unable to catch up

Once leaving Rhu, police accelerated to 100mph but lost sight of the car.

In order to stop the car, police had to place one of their vehicles in oncoming traffic to bring the vehicle to a stop near Shandon.

Raja was found in the vehicle with four other males.

Scott Adair, defending, said: “He is thoroughly ashamed at the nature of his driving. One of the passengers in his car was smoking cannabis [but] he accepts that he has no reason whatsoever to be driving the way he did.

“He is well aware of the situation he put himself in.

“He has made some progress staying out of trouble for the future. He has started at a testing centre working nightshift and has attended Glasgow City College and intends to progress that.”

Sheriff David Hall told Raja: “This was deplorable driving by you. The speed you were driving at simply can’t be tolerated by the court.”

The sheriff handed Raja, of Murchison, Anniesland, a community payback order with two years of social work supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He also banned him from holding or obtaining a licence for two years.