A car valet stole a customer's vehicle and used it to lead police on chase at speeds of up to 80mph through Perth.

Barry Dixon raced through red traffic lights as he drove the company car for several miles.

Dixon, 19, was banned from driving for 32 months at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday and ordered to resit an extended driving test before being allowed back on the road.

He was also ordered to carry out 175 hours' unpaid work.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: "It was an appalling piece of driving over a significant distance - starting in Scone and ending up at Inveralmond. It goes on for a considerable period of time.

"This nonsense had very serious consequences. You may have thought it was fun at the time but you were a danger to other road users by acting in this manner."

He told Dixon that because of the high speed he was driving at he would have had no time to react if someone had stepped out in front of him and could easily have caused a fatality.

Dixon, of Perth, who was clocked driving at almost three times the 30mph speed limit in Perth city centre, was only stopped after he drove on to a busy roundabout on the A9 dual carriageway.

He admitted driving a stolen Ford Fiesta dangerously and at speeds in excess of 80mph on various roads in and around Perth. He also admitted failing to obey red traffic lights, ignoring signs and driving without having any insurance.

Fiscal depute Craig Donald told the court: "It was fitted with a tracker that enables it to be traced via computers and mobile phones. It was put into Bookers Carwash where the accused is employed as a car valeter.

"One of the employees of the car-owning company noticed the tracker was giving information that the vehicle was being driven erratically.

"It was initially traced by police and stopped, but as they got out to approach the driver, Dixon sped off and then led police on a high-speed blue light chase."

Solicitor Paul Ralph said: "There is no great explanation for my client's behaviour."