Retired detective's son led police on a high speed car chase before crashing in East Lothian

The son of a retired detective inspector who led police on a high speed chase before crashing his car into a ditch has been banned from the road.

Shanley appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court

Martin Shanley was driving a powerful Audi when officers attempted to pull him over on a country road in East Lothian in April 2018.

Shanley, 26, initially slowed down but soon sped away and was seen driving through a red light and reaching speeds of up to 80mph before he lost control of the motor and veered off the road.

The professional golf caddie and his friend Liam Taylor both exited the damaged vehicle and the pair were arrested.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told police officers decided to try and stop the vehicle after detecting a smell cannabis coming from the car.

The two officers activated their lights but were forced to give chase for around 15 minutes after Shanley drove off “at speed”.

Prosecutor Lynsay Magro said Shanley raced along an “unlit country road” before speeding through a red signal at a temporary set of lights in his bid to escape.

The chase ended when Shanley’s vehicle left the road and smashed through a hedge before coming to a stop in a ditch on the A6137 between Ballencrieff and Haddington.

Shanley, from Port Seton, East Lothian, admitted a charge of dangerous driving when he appeared at a court hearing last month and returned to the dock for sentencing.

Solicitor Mary Moultrie had previously told the court she was asked to take the case on by Shanley’s father who is a retired detective inspector.

She also said Shanley worked at Scottish club for half the year and in the US for the other six months.

She said his conviction may have “implications” for his career as a caddie in the United States.

Ms Moultrie added her client was “incredibly foolish” at not pulling over for the police and that “he does accept his behaviour was unacceptable”.

Sheriff Alistair Noble said: “You have pled guilty to a charge of dangerous driving. That marks your first and I hope your only appearance in a criminal court.

“It seems to be a relatively bad case of dangerous driving which you deliberately embarked upon to get away from the police.

“It involved you driving at excessive speeds for a period of perhaps 15 minutes and drove through a red traffic light at temporary road works.”

Shanley was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community and was banned from driving for 16 months.

He will also have to pass the extended driving test before he is allowed back on the road.

Shanley pleaded guilty to driving dangerously at excessive speeds and losing control of the vehicle and causing it to leave the road on the A6137 between Ballencrieff and Haddington, East Lothian, on April 30, 2018.

Co-accused 26-year-old Liam Taylor, from Slateford, Edinburgh, had previously admitted a charge of supplying cannabis on the same date and had his sentence deferred for six months to allow other matters to call.

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