A 20-year-old Edinburgh male involved in a high speed police chase in Peebles was already banned from driving, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Declan Russell extensively damaged five vehicles and hit a speed of 83mph in a 30mph limit in Edinburgh Road on January 16.

He was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and no motor insurance.

Depute fiscal Nicole Lavelle explained how police were on the look-out for a Ford Mondeo on the A72 in Peebles but spotted a BMW driven by Russell just on front of it.

Their suspicions were aroused because his face was partly covered up and after seeing the police he sped off.

Ms Lavelle said: "The BMW made off at speed. "It lost control momentarily due to the damp conditions and hardness of the acceleration.

"Police activated the blue lights and calculated the accused was travelling at 83mph in an area where the speed limit is 30mph."

She explained how Russell, from Edinburgh, crossed into the opposite carriageway ignoring the keep left signs for 35 seconds during the high speed chase and caused damage to four vehicles.

Fire fighters had to cut Russell from the wreckage of the BMW after it crashed.

Two of the vehicles struck by Russell were write offs.

He provided a negative breath test.

The court was told that Russell had been in custody since January 16.