Murder-bid driver gets 15 years’ jail

A MAN convicted of the attempted murder of three police officers by driving at them in a stolen car has received a 15-year sentence.

At the time, Robert Wemyss, 22, was driving a BMW X5 which had been stolen from Kingswells, near Aberdeen.

He was yesterday jailed for ten years at the High Court in Dumbarton with an extension period of five years. His co-accused Martin Smart, 18, who was convicted of stealing the car, was jailed for a year

Wemyss drove the 4X4 along streets in Aberdeen where the vehicle was spotted by police officers. When Wemyss realised this, he pursued the Grampian Police officers in their unmarked car and tried to kill them.

Wearing a balaclava, he drove dangerously along footpaths and grass verges forcing other drivers to take evasive action on 10 July last year.

He crashed into their car, forcing the officers to get out their vehicle and flee the scene. One officer, constable Kenneth Scott, was injured in the smash. The car thieves disappeared but were later traced and arrested.

Wemyss and Smart went on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in January. It took a jury of eight women and seven men just two hours to convict them.