A motorist who led police on a high-speed chase on the wrong side of the A9 was a missing person who fled his home after losing £30,000 in an online betting scam.

David Mitchell, who was the subject of a nationwide search after being reported missing by his sister, eventually crashed down an embankment.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the 47-year-old raced through roadworks and hit speeds of over 90mph as he was pursued by police for several minutes on the main Perth to Inverness road.

At one stage he drove straight across the central reservation and carried on driving south on the northbound carriageway as he continued to ignore police.

Mitchell, of Knockard Place, Pitlochry, admitted driving carelessly on the A9 between Perth and Inverness and various other roads on September 10 last year.

He admitted driving at 70mph on stretches of road which were restricted to 50mph limits and had one lane closed for the protection of roadworkers.

Mitchell also drove at 87mph near Killiecrankie, performed a U-turn on the northbound carriageway of the A9 and drove on the wrong side of the road. He also admitted a separate charge of failing to stop for uniformed police.

Police Scotland issued the first of a series of press releases two days before the incident, asking the public for help in trying to trace Mitchell after he was reported as a missing person.

They asked people to look out for his Toyota Rav 4 vehicle and confirmed there had been sightings of it in Ross and Cromarty.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "He was reported missing by his sister. His family were concerned because they had become aware of his financial problem.

"Effectively it was an online betting scam. This man had promised that money would be given to him. It got worse, to the point where he owed £30,000.

"He panicked. He didn't know he had been reported missing. He had decided to go home and confront the situation, but officers didn't know that and tried to intercept him.

"He was very upset and distressed. A lot of things in his world had turned upside-down. He has learned his lesson. He spent a night in custody."

Fiscal depute Becky Kynaston told the court: "The officers activated blue flashing lights and signalled him to stop. He failed to respond and continued to drive.

"A pursuit ensued. Police moved alongside him and could see he was alone. They gestured for him to stop but at no point did he look over.

"He then performed a U-turn. He negotiated his way across the raised kerb and central reservation."

She said police halted the chase because it had become too dangerous.

Mrs Kynaston said the car was eventually discovered 100 metres along a track and down an embankment.

A police dog search team discovered Mitchell hiding in the undergrowth in dense woodland over a mile away.

"He stated he did not intend to go missing and was travelling around in an attempt to clear his head prior to confronting his family about a gambling problem," she said.

Sheriff Fiona Tait banned Mitchell from driving for a year and fined him £720.

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