Copyright dailyrecord
A brazen offender jumped out of the dock and fled from court after hearing he was being sent to prison. Barry Walker sprinted through Airdrie town centre, chased by police officers, and assaulted three of them when they caught up with him. Walker, 35, was jailed for three years at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice, police assaults and threatening or abusive behavior on April 14. Walker also admitted separate traffic offences. Lewis Devoy, prosecuting, said: "The accused was jailed for six months at Airdrie Sheriff Court for traffic offences and at this point vaulted the dock. "He ran out of Court 2 and made his way through the central hall of the building before leaving by the front door." A police officer gave chase and was joined by colleagues who were on patrol nearby. Walker tried to get into a car but the driver wouldn't let him. Mr Devoy added: "He ran on to a roundabout on the A89, causing road users to take evasive action. "A police officer caught hold of him, but the accused struck him on the mouth, causing a cut to his gum. "There was a struggle as the accused was taken to the ground." Walker kicked two other officers and shouted abuse as he was arrested. He was taken to jail to serve his sentence but after being freed was twice involved in police car chases. Walker admitted taking his partner's Seat car without permission and driving it dangerously while disqualified on Langloan Street, Coatbridge , on August 6. Officers lost him after a chase on that occasion. He also admitted driving dangerously while banned on the M74 and culpably and recklessly running across the motorway after police caught him on September 5. Mr Devoy said police were told that Walker was driving a Volkswagen Golf and spotted him at junction 10, near Lesmahagow, at 5.30pm. He sped away on the hard shoulder, clocking 120 miles an hour as he raced past traffic. Mr Devoy told the court: "Police officers further ahead deployed stinger equipment that forced the accused to bring his car to a halt. By this time it was on the outside lane of the motorway. "Walker got out and ran across live motorway lines towards the hard shoulder. Police officers gave chase and arrested him. "They noted he was under the influence, slurring his speech and unsteady. He gave a positive spit specimen for cocaine and cannabis indicators." Walker admitted driving while unfit through alcohol or drugs and refusing to give a blood sample. Defence agent Eddie Kelly described Walker's courtroom escape as "folly", adding: "When custody was imposed he panicked and acted without thinking. "There is no justification for his manner of driving on the other occasions." Mr Kelly said his client has suffered mental health issues since being hit by a car as a teenager. He lives with his partner and three young children. She has health issues and Walker is her carer. Sheriff Liam Murphy told Walker any attempt to defeat the ends of justice has to be treated seriously by the court. His driving on the later dates was "appalling" and his criminal record "significant". Walker was banned from driving for four years and must resit his test. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
