Apprentice joiner (20) involved in collision outside Magherafelt intended to take out insurance the next day
An apprentice joiner who was involved in a two-vehicle collision at Magherafelt, has lost his licence for six weeks for driving without insurance.
The local Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that police attended the damage-only collision on the Ballyronan Road outside the town at approximately 6.17pm on April 23 this year.
Twenty-year-old Logan Mcllfatrick, of Ballinderry Bridge Road, Coagh, was also fined £250 with a £15 offender's levy arising out of the incident.
Prosecuting counsel said checks carried out on police systems showed the defendant did not have insurance for the vehicle.
A defence lawyer explained the defendant had allowed his insurance to lapse because of the high premiums, but had saved up and was intending to get it insured the next day.
He stressed that no one had been injured in the collision and it was damage-only.
Counsel asked the court to impose a short period of disqualification as the defendant needed to drive to work and drive in connection with his job.
He added that he “regretted and apologised” to the court for the offence.
"I would ask the court to give him credit for his guilty plea and the fact that this is his first for no insurance,” he added.
“I would ask the court to impose a short period of disqualification as losing his licence could have significant consequences for him.”
Imposing the penalties District Judge Conor Heaney noted that McIlfatrick had been disqualified for speeding in November last year.
The judge warned him not to come back before the court.