A MAN wrote off his girlfriend’s car after taking it from her home while she was on holiday and going for a high-speed joyride through Largs.

Jonathan Heath pleaded guilty to four charges and was warned that all sentencing options will be open when he returns to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court next month.

At a hearing last week, the procurator fiscal depute said the 25-year-old’s partner was on holiday in Greece when Heath decided to use her Vauxhall Corsa.

He had a key to her property and attended the home on June 24 while she was abroad before taking the vehicle.

The fiscal depute said: “At 4.25pm police were on mobile patrol on the A78 and observed a bus stop at a stop directly opposite them.

“The Corsa was travelling south and approaching the bus. The bus pulled away and the vehicle overtook it as it approached a pedestrian crossing forcing oncoming traffic to stop.

“Police decided to stop the vehicle and put on their emergency lights.”

The fiscal depute said the back end of the car was “squatted down as if it was under hard acceleration”.

Heath then made off and failed to stop at a stop sign, sparking a police pursuit which continued onto Brisbane Road in Largs, where he reached speeds in excess of 70mph in a 30mph zone.

He then approached a crossroads and failed to give way, colliding with a parked vehicle, mounting a footpath and hitting a garden wall.

Heath denied part of the original charge which stated he jumped out of a moving vehicle, claiming instead that he had put the handbrake on then jumped out as the car rolled away.

Police officers checked the vehicle when it had stopped and found Heath’s wallet inside.

The vehicle, which he did not have valid insurance cover to drive, was written off and Heath later handed himself into police.

Defence solicitor Peter Murray told the court: "Mr Heath accepts he has now pleaded guilty to extremely serious matters and that all options will be open."

Sheriff Colin Bissett told the 25-year-old: “You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious set of charges which must have caused considerable alarm to the people of Largs.

“If I was to conduct a poll of people in Largs I imagine a majority of them would want me to send you to jail.”

Heath, from Beith, responded: “I imagine so.”

Sentence was deferred for the preparation of background reports and Heath, of Jamieson Way, was bailed. He has been disqualified from driving in the meantime and will return to court on November 9.