Careless driver distractedby daughter

Jonathan Hamilton (32), of Avenue Road, Lurgan admitted charges of driving unaccompanied as an L Driver, driving without a Vehicle Test Certificate, not displaying L plates and driving without insurance.

He also admitted driving with a defective tyre and careless driving.

The first offences were detected on March 7 when police arrived at the scene of a road traffic accident at Russell Drive.

The driver said his daughter had distracted him and he had hit a parked vehicle on the opposite side.

Police noted a defective tyre.

On May 26 at Avenue Road the defendant was stopped and admitted he was driving without insurance.

His solicitor told the court his client had accepted the inevitable outcome of the proceedings. He said Hamilton had already received correspondence from the Motor Insurance Bureau. Hamilton, the solicitor added, was currently unemployed.

District Judge Alan White said he would be mindful of Hamilton's status when imposing the fines.

On the two counts of driving while accompanied he imposed fines of 20 each plus concurrent six month driving bans.

For failing to display L plates there was a concurrent six month ban on both counts and a 20 fine on each.

On the vehicle test certificate charge there was a 20 fine, the same was imposed for the defective tyre.

Fines of 100 were imposed on both counts of driving without insurance plus concurrent 12 month driving disqualifications.

He was fined 30 on the careless driving charge.