Co Armagh BMW driver, who drove into the back of an Audi A4, had cocaine and cannabis in his system, Craigavon court hears
A Co Armagh man, who drove into the back of another vehicle, had cocaine and cannabis in his system, a court has heard.
The 32-year-old appeared in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates Court for sentencing on a number of charges.
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Niall Withers, of The Spires, Portadown pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink / drugs, failing to remain where an accident occurred and failing to report an accident.
Police received ‘an abandoned call’ on August 1 last year at around 12.37pm.
The call was traced to the Garvaghy Road, Portadown and police found the reporting person, her brother and her partner standing on the footpath on the side of the road beside an Audi A4 which had damage to its rear.
The Audi A4 driver was the reporting person’s partner. Police ascertained they had been involved in a ‘hit and run’ with another vehicle which ‘made off’ before police arrived.
They explained they were travelling along the Garvaghy Road, stopped at a red light, when suddenly a BMW collided into the rear of their vehicle.
All parties exited their vehicles. One of the Audi passengers videoed the aftermath on his phone. The footage showed the defendant standing outside the BMW with ‘extensive damage to the front of his vehicle’.
A prosecutor revealed the defendant told the Audi occupants he had no money before handing over the driver a piece of paper with his insurance details.
"Moments later the defendant took the piece of paper back from the other driver before getting into his vehicle and driving off,” she revealed, adding the other driver was “in shock” and didn’t take note of the insurance details.
They told police they believed Withers may have been under the influence of drink / drugs.
At his home, Withers blew zero for alcohol. When arrested and the allegations put to him he said: “It’s all lies”.
Withers later tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.
During interview he claimed the black Audi had reversed into him and he didn’t cause the collision. He said he didn’t stop to exchange details but ‘became intimidated and afraid as the other parties told him they were going to take his car’. He then drove off.
He claimed he planned to report the collision but police called before he did so.
He told police: “I only left the scene because I was in fear of my life. I was outnumbered 3-1. They threatened me and threatened to take my car.”
Defence barrister Mr Conor Lunny said the defendant pleaded guilty. "He is still of the belief that he wasn’t 100% to blame for the accident.”
Mr Lunny said his client is a bright man who has succumbed to opioid addiction and is already off the road due to another matter.
Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor said: “This was a Friday afternoon when you decided to go on the road and before you did so, you took cocaine and cannabis. You crashed into innocent people and left the scene.”
He banned Withers from driving for three years and handed him a three months jail term, suspended for two years, in respect of each of the charges, to run concurrently. He was also fined £200 on each charge plus £15 offender levy.