A MAN who drove the wrong way round a roundabout before crashing into an unmarked police car has been banned from the roads for nearly a decade.

Barry Rutherford, 27, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle dangerously by going through a red light during a police chase.

He then failed to stop when required to do so by police officers before ultimately crashing into an unmarked police car.

Rutherford travelled round the roundabout at Musselburgh’s Granada Services the wrong way and on the opposite carriageway into the face of oncoming traffic during the incident earlier this year.

He caused motorists on the roundabout to take evasive action before he crashed his car into the unmarked police vehicle, which brought the chase to a halt.

Sheriff Kenneth McGowan had remanded Rutherford in custody pending the full sentence, which took place last Monday.

But Sheriff McGowan decided against handing out a custodial sentence on this occasion and instead banned Rutherford from driving for a total of eight years. He will also have to sit the extended driving test before he is allowed back on the road.

Rutherford was also told he would be under supervision for two years and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He has also been placed on a 12-month offenders’ supervision order where he will have to wear an electronic tag and stay within his Musselburgh home between the hours of 7pm and 7am each day.

Rutherford, who appeared in the dock from custody, admitted an amended complaint when he appeared at court last month.

Rutherford’s dangerous driving took place at Musselburgh’s Newhailes Road, Monktonhall Terrace, North High Street, Granada Service Station and Lochend Road South on March 8.

Rutherford also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and to resisting arrest at Monktonhall Terrace on the same date.