Co Armagh man caught by PSNI doing 'wheelies' on a motorbike on Garvaghy Road, Portadown, a Craigavon court hears
A Co Armagh man was spotted doing ‘wheelies’ on a motorbike down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown, a court hears.
The 25-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
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Callum Lucas, of Ballyoran Park, Portadown, faced a number of driving charges including dangerous driving on the Garvaghy Road on February 26 this year.
He was also accused of driving while disqualified, using a Honda motorcycle in a dangerous condition, failing to wear protective headgear as a motorcycle rider, obstructing police, no number plate and no insurance – all on the same date.
Police spotted the rider of a black Honda motorbike driving it on only the back wheel along the Garvaghy Road at around 5.30pm.
"He was essentially doing a wheelie as he was driving off the road onto the footpath and back onto the main road,” said a Prosecutor, adding he wasn’t wearing a helmet and there was no registration mark.
The rider eventually stopped at the Dungannon Road and told police he knew he wasn’t meant to be driving the motorcycle. Police seized the motorbike and keys before the defendant made off towards Alexandra Avenue.
Police were not able to find him however arrested him on March 27 this year when he arrived into Belfast International Airport.
Lucas’ barrister Mr Conor Coulter said his client has an interest in motorcycles. “He knows now that it can’t be conducted with a cavalier attitude towards road safety and legislation.”
He explained his driving ban was issued last year and this is his first driving while disqualified offence.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan told Lucas he "put other road users in danger”.
For dangerous driving he was given three months jail term suspended for 12 months and a 18 months driving ban. For driving while disqualified he was given a three months jail term suspended for 12 months and a 12 months driving ban. For using a vehicle in a dangerous condition he was given a six months driving ban.
For obstructing police he was fined £150. For failing to wear headgear he was fined £100. For no insurance he was also given a three months jail term suspended for 12 months plus a six months driving ban. The registration charge was met with a £150 fine plus £15 Offender Levy.