Man drove around in a clapped-out car in Greenock's east end whilst holding a door shut with a ROPE

Stephen Morrison drove the wrong way down a one-way street and had to mount a pavement to avoid colliding with a bus.

The 37-year-old narrowly missed crashing into parked cars on Corlic Street, where several children on their school holiday were playing.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how Morrison — who doesn't have a driving licence — was spotted by police as he drove the car around a number of roads.

Prosecutor David Glancy said: "Corlic Street was busy with children playing.

"Two police officers in an unmarked car saw the Ford Focus being driven with a door not properly secured.

"It appeared to be flapping open and the driver appeared to be securing it by pulling on a rope.

"This caused the vehicle to swerve from side to side and narrowly miss parked vehicles."

Morrison, of Belville Street, committed the offences at around 6.30pm on August 2 last year.

The court was told how he drove the Focus without due care and attention on Finnieston Street, Millar Street, Bawhirley Road, Strone Crescent and in the wrong direction along Corlic Street.

Fiscal depute Mr Glancy said: "The Focus encountered a bus and had to mount the pavement to avoid it.

"He said that he'd found the car dumped at Finnieston Street and was moving it out of the way.

"The accused stated, 'It's not my motor, I was going to dump it up the Kilmacolm Road'."

The court heard that the vehicle had been sold to the garage on Dellingburn Street the previous day and 'may well have been intended for scrap'.

Defence lawyer Ellen Macdonald said: "Mr Morrison appreciates that your Lordship could send him to custody, but his problems with mental health and alcohol would remain unaddressed."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton deferred sentence until May 15 and disqualified Morrison from driving in the meantime.

The sheriff imposed a supervision order regarding a separate offence of shouting and swearing at police in October, 2017.