A Fife man, already prohibited from driving for life, has been handed a further prison sentence after leading police on a perilous high-speed pursuit through both Fife and Perthshire, culminating in a crash into a water-filled ditch near the Famous Bein Inn, south of Perth. The incident, which endangered multiple lives including a passenger in his vehicle, underscores the severe consequences of defying driving bans and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement on our local roads.
Jamie Mullan, a serial offender with a decades-long history of road safety violations, was only four months into his release from a previous custodial sentence when the latest drama unfolded on July 4. Police initially identified Mullan driving a blue Ford Fusion without insurance in Kelty. What followed was a blatant disregard for road safety and a desperate attempt to evade capture. Mullan accelerated dangerously, reaching speeds of 65mph through active roadworks and temporary traffic lights, narrowly missing roadworkers as he sped through a red signal. He then tore down Bath Street, a residential area with a 20mph limit, at 50mph, overtaking another car perilously close to pedestrians.
After temporarily losing sight of the rogue driver in Fife, officers successfully tracked him to a petrol station in Crook of Devon, near the Perth and Kinross border. The pursuit reignited, extending onto the M90 motorway before Mullan veered onto the A912 from the Bridge of Earn junction, heading further into Perthshire. The chase reached a dramatic climax when a tyre stinger device was successfully deployed at the Famous Bein Inn. Despite the deflated tyres, Mullan continued his reckless flight. In a final, desperate manoeuvre, he collided with a police vehicle during a containment attempt, sending his Ford Fusion, with its terrified passenger, tumbling into a ditch filled with shallow water.
Appearing via video link at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Mullan admitted to a litany of charges, including dangerous driving, operating a vehicle without insurance, driving while disqualified, and breaching two bail orders. The court heard the full extent of his shocking criminal record. In delivering the sentence, Sheriff James Williamson expressed profound frustration, stating that Mullan was ‘probably the perfect example of why the sentencing powers of this court should be reviewed,’ indicating the limitations of the current judicial system in dealing with such persistent offenders. Mullan was ordered to serve the remaining five months of his previous unexpired prison sentence, with an additional 17 months added for these new offences. Furthermore, he was issued yet another lifetime driving ban, bringing into sharp focus the seemingly endless cycle of his defiance.
Mullan’s criminal record stretches back to before 1999, when he received his first conviction for driving while disqualified. His first lifetime ban was imposed in 2003, but this has done little to deter his illicit activities behind the wheel. Previous incidents include a 2013 jailing at Perth Sheriff Court for flouting his ban for the 17th time, caught near Milnathort while under the influence of heroin. In 2017, he was apprehended for failing to pay for petrol at a Dunfermline filling station. More recently, in 2022, a court heard how he nearly struck two police officers in Glenrothes, and just last year, he was again jailed for drunkenly crashing a Range Rover into a roundabout in Rosyth. This extensive history paints a disturbing picture of a driver with an entrenched disregard for the law and the safety of the public.
The repeated offences by individuals like Mullan pose a significant threat to communities across Perth and Kinross. The dramatic chase that unfolded on our very own roads, ending just outside Perth, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by disqualified drivers. Local authorities continue to work tirelessly to keep our streets safe, but the persistent actions of repeat offenders like Mullan highlight the need for robust measures and unwavering vigilance. The community remains concerned, emphasizing the importance of respecting traffic laws and ensuring that those who repeatedly flout them are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Jamie Mullan, a serial offender with a decades-long history of road safety violations, was only four months into his release from a previous custodial sentence when the latest drama unfolded on July 4. Police initially identified Mullan driving a blue Ford Fusion without insurance in Kelty. What followed was a blatant disregard for road safety and a desperate attempt to evade capture. Mullan accelerated dangerously, reaching speeds of 65mph through active roadworks and temporary traffic lights, narrowly missing roadworkers as he sped through a red signal. He then tore down Bath Street, a residential area with a 20mph limit, at 50mph, overtaking another car perilously close to pedestrians.
After temporarily losing sight of the rogue driver in Fife, officers successfully tracked him to a petrol station in Crook of Devon, near the Perth and Kinross border. The pursuit reignited, extending onto the M90 motorway before Mullan veered onto the A912 from the Bridge of Earn junction, heading further into Perthshire. The chase reached a dramatic climax when a tyre stinger device was successfully deployed at the Famous Bein Inn. Despite the deflated tyres, Mullan continued his reckless flight. In a final, desperate manoeuvre, he collided with a police vehicle during a containment attempt, sending his Ford Fusion, with its terrified passenger, tumbling into a ditch filled with shallow water.
Appearing via video link at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Mullan admitted to a litany of charges, including dangerous driving, operating a vehicle without insurance, driving while disqualified, and breaching two bail orders. The court heard the full extent of his shocking criminal record. In delivering the sentence, Sheriff James Williamson expressed profound frustration, stating that Mullan was ‘probably the perfect example of why the sentencing powers of this court should be reviewed,’ indicating the limitations of the current judicial system in dealing with such persistent offenders. Mullan was ordered to serve the remaining five months of his previous unexpired prison sentence, with an additional 17 months added for these new offences. Furthermore, he was issued yet another lifetime driving ban, bringing into sharp focus the seemingly endless cycle of his defiance.
Mullan’s criminal record stretches back to before 1999, when he received his first conviction for driving while disqualified. His first lifetime ban was imposed in 2003, but this has done little to deter his illicit activities behind the wheel. Previous incidents include a 2013 jailing at Perth Sheriff Court for flouting his ban for the 17th time, caught near Milnathort while under the influence of heroin. In 2017, he was apprehended for failing to pay for petrol at a Dunfermline filling station. More recently, in 2022, a court heard how he nearly struck two police officers in Glenrothes, and just last year, he was again jailed for drunkenly crashing a Range Rover into a roundabout in Rosyth. This extensive history paints a disturbing picture of a driver with an entrenched disregard for the law and the safety of the public.
The repeated offences by individuals like Mullan pose a significant threat to communities across Perth and Kinross. The dramatic chase that unfolded on our very own roads, ending just outside Perth, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by disqualified drivers. Local authorities continue to work tirelessly to keep our streets safe, but the persistent actions of repeat offenders like Mullan highlight the need for robust measures and unwavering vigilance. The community remains concerned, emphasizing the importance of respecting traffic laws and ensuring that those who repeatedly flout them are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.