A SPEEDER who drove a car at 106mph in sub-zero temperatures on the A8 in Port Glasgow has been found NOT guilty of dangerous driving.

John Moore said he thought an unmarked police car tailing him belonged to a drug dealer he owed money to — and a sheriff believed him.

A special defence of 'necessity' for driving at that speed was upheld by lawman Daniel Kelly.

He told Mr Moore: "You met every requirement set out in law."

Officers followed Mr Moore, 31, east and westbound between the Newark and Woodhall roundabouts but didn't activate their lights because there was no safe place to pull him over.

Only when he'd turned off towards Clune Brae did the police make their presence known to him and he immediately stopped his Volkswagen Golf.

Defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher told Greenock Sheriff Court: "His position is that he drove because he thought that certain people were after him.

"When he has seen the police lights he has responded appropriately.

"He thought he was being chased by parties to whom he owed a debt.

"Mr Moore was fearful for his safety."

But prosecutor Lindy Scaife said that the legal standard for a defence of necessity to be met is 'extremely high'.

Ms Scaife added: "The accused must have acted because he was either in immediate danger of death or bodily harm.

"Could he have called the police on a hands free phone? Could he have pulled over? Could he have headed for the direction of the police office?

"It is my submission that a defence of necessity is not made out in this case."

Mr Moore told a trial that he was 'blinded' and felt 'intimidated' by the headlights of the unmarked police BMW 5 series car and tried to outrun it.

He said: "I got scared and not for one minute did I think it was the polis.

"The first thing I said when they pulled me over was, 'Thank God it's the polis'."

Mr Moore, of Dubbs Road, Port Glasgow, said that he was previously involved in the drugs scene, adding: "I used to owe loads of money and I was paranoid, I suppose."

He accepted that he drove at up to 106mph eastbound between the Newark and Woodhall roundabouts and at a shade over 100mph on the return stretch on November 23 2016.

The incident happened during hours of darkness while the recently gritted road was damp and the outside temperature was -2C, the court was told.

Mr Moore said that he had decided to go for a 'wee run' on his trip home from buying shopping in the Port town.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly told Mr Moore: "I do find that a defence of necessity has been made out and I find you not guilty.

"What the police did was appropriate in their reasoning for not putting on their lights.

"Your actions were based on fear that you would be subjected to some sort of assault.

"My view is that there was no option to stop or turn off, and when the police activated their lights and stopped you, you gave the explanation you have given in court."