Co Tyrone farmer who made off after collision was later 'boxed in' by other driver, court told
A farmer who made off after a road traffic collision was followed by the other driver, Dungannon Magistrates Court has been told.
The court heard 50-year-old Brian Rafferty from Toomog Road, Dungannon, offered the driver money for the damage and became abusive when he refused to take it.
Rafferty was fined £400 with a £15 offender's levy and disqualified from driving for 15 months for driving while having consumed excess alcohol in breath.
He was fined a further £300 for failing to stop where an accident occurred, failing to report the accident, and failing to remain at the scene.
Police were tasked to a report of a road traffic accident in the vicinity of Old Caulfield Road, Dungannon, around 6.15pm on January 22, prosecuting counsel said.
He said a pick-up had collided with another vehicle and as a result of this the defendant had made off and the injured party followed him and "boxed him in”.
Counsel said Rafferty offered the injured party money to pay for the damage and when he refused he became abusive and threatening.
The lawyer said the defendant failed a preliminary breath test and was conveyed to custody, where he provided an evidential specimen showing an alcohol reading of 89 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
A defence lawyer said Rafferty had been in Dungannon getting a few things and had stopped with friends and consumed alcohol which he shouldn’t have done.
He pointed out that the defendant lived with his mother who depended on him and asked the court to take this into consideration when sentencing.