Officers target wrong car during chase

Justin Bradford, 19, was found not guilty after prosecutors failed to prove the vehicle being pursued - at speeds of up to 120mph - was his.

Traffic police on patrol in Ayrshire in January were alerted to the loud roar of an exhaust and followed the silver-coloured car they thought was responsible.

Officers lost sight of the vehicle for just over a minute following a seven-mile chase. They stopped Mr Bradford in Mauchline, believing his car was the one they had been chasing.

The apprentice engineer had denied driving dangerously at more than 100mph on the A76 Kilmarnock to Mauchline road in January.

Expert defence witness George Gilfillan, 61, a former police traffic officer, said in his report to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court: "I was surprised it took the officers at least seven miles to stop the alleged offending motor vehicle.

"The BMW patrol car will have had far greater acceleration capabilities than a 1600cc Vauxhall Astra car (Mr Bradford's vehicle]."