RANGERS star Rabbi Matondo hit speeds of over 100mph as cops chased him to Ibrox — after he had tailgated their unmarked motor.
The Welsh winger, 24, also weaved in and out of traffic on Glasgow’s M8 and ran a red light as he rushed to training.
Rabbi Matondo was slapped with a driving ban
GettyMatondo was driving an Audi Q8 at the time[/caption]
He was clocked on the M8
He was hit with a year’s road ban and fined after being convicted of dangerous driving.
But cops didn’t try to keep up with Rangers ace Rabbi Matondo’s car during a 100mph dash to Ibrox — in case he lost control and killed someone, a court heard.
A traffic constable told how he feared “a fatality” if he tried to match the high speeds hit by the winger, 24, as he raced to a public training session.
Officers finally caught up with the footie ace at the Rangers stadium, where they marched in through the players’ entrance to charge him with dangerous driving.
And the Welsh international was hit with a 12-month driving ban after being convicted of the offence at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
PC James Bowie told how he was with a colleague in an unmarked police motor on the M8 when they were tailgated by Matondo’s Audi Q8 on the city’s Kingston Bridge.
Dashcam footage showed the powerful SUV speeding off, sparking a pursuit on August 1, 2023.
The Light Blues forward was then seen undertaking an HGV and running a red light as he left the cops in his wake.
PC Bowie said they “never went anywhere near” his car despite reaching 80mph.
He explained: “I knew it was a nice big Audi Q8. But I thought that if he loses control at 100 miles per hour there is a possibility of a fatality.”
When the officers eventually got to interview Matondo, they said he was “remorseful”.
Defence lawyer Ronnie Simpson said the officers’ report stated the player’s average speed was 72mph on a 50mph stretch.
PC Bowie replied: “That’s an average between distances.
“In among that the speed was in excess of 100mph.”
He was also asked why he charged Matondo with dangerous driving rather than hand him a fixed penalty notice.
PC Bowie said there were “other elements” to his driving, and it was a “course of conduct”.
The cop added: “In my opinion, he seemed remorseful and his attitude was pretty good.
“He understood what we were explaining and seemed to accept why we were there.”
Mr Simpson said: “He was a young man running late to his work — and he didn’t want to let his colleagues down.”
But Sheriff Mary Shields found Matondo — currently on loan at German side Hannover 96 — guilty of dangerous driving.
The first offender was handed a year’s road ban and £420 fine.
The law chief said: “I think overwhelmingly the way in which Mr Matondo drove the Audi car over the distance shown on CCTV is obviously far below what is expected of a driver.”
SpindriftMatondo at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he given a 12 month ban and fined £420[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
