Scots driver caught pretending to be police officer by cops who spotted fake siren and flashing lights

A dozy driver was caught pretending to be a police officer after he attached a fake siren and flashing blue lights to his car. David Galbraith, 38, bought the items on Amazon before heading out on the roads.

He was spotted driving at speed on the A725 near Bellshill, Lanarkshire, by on-duty officers who initially thought it was an unmarked vehicle. Other motorists took evasive action believing they were making way for a police pursuit on the busy road in October 2022.

But Galbraith was pulled over after officers discovered the car had no links to Police Scotland. As he was being arrested, he said: "I can't be impersonating a police officer, could it not be impersonating any member of the emergency services?"

Galbraith, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted operating the lights and siren in a way that was 'calculated to suggest' that he was a constable. The dad-of-one also pled guilty to driving without due care or attention.

Depute fiscal Rosemary O'Neill told the court: "The accused was noted in a car by police witnesses who were in a marked police vehicle. They noted the accused travelling at speed through the roundabout and noted a blue flashing light with the emergency siren to be activated.

"They assumed the car to be an unmarked police vehicle. They followed in the direction of Bellshill where the accused was observed to drive at speed while other vehicles gave way on the assumption of the blue light from the vehicle.

"Police activated their lights to indicate the accused to stop but he continued to Bellshill before coming to a stop at a set of traffic lights. Police approached the vehicle and noted there were two passengers as well as the accused who was driving."

The prosecutor added: "The officers established there was no legitimate explanation for the use of the warning light and he was removed and placed in the marked police vehicle."

Craig Dewar, defending, said: "He accepts he made a very significant error of judgement. He was on Amazon and was rather surprised that both the siren and the light could be purchased.

"He purchased them to confirm it was what was advertised but then cannot give an explanation as to why he then attached the devices to his vehicle and drove in the way described."

Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence on unemployed Galbraith until July for reports and continued bail.

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