A cocaine-fuelled driver who drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway killed a 24-year-old biker on his way to work, a court was told today.

At the High Court in Glasgow William McLean admitted causing the death of student Allan Nicholson on the A725 East Kilbride Expressway, Blantyre, Lanarkshire, on November 10, last year.

The court heard that 35-year-old dad-of-two McLean, of Cathkin, Glasgow, who admitted snorting five lines of cocaine five hours before getting behind the wheel, drove at excessive speed and repeatedly drove into the path of oncoming vehicles.

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Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said: “At 6.30am he left his girlfriend's home to travel to work. Mr Hutchison overtook a bus on the dual carriageway and the accused's white Ford Mondeo collided head-on with his Suzuki motorcycle.

“Due to the impact, Mr Nicholson was thrown from the motorcycle, landing on the carriageway as the motorbike burst into flames.”

Despite the efforts of passing paramedics, Allan died at the scene.

The accused's car came to rest on the grass verge and he got out and said to motorists who had stopped to help: “What have I done?'

He then ran across the southbound carriageway and tried to climb a wall. People gave chase and held him until police arrived.

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Judge Lord Brodie granted McLean bail, but told him: “The offence to which you pled can only be dealt with properly with the imposition of a custodial sentence.”

He deferred sentence on McLean until August 27 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

McLean was banned from driving in the meantime.