Co Tyrone man found asleep in driving seat of car handed ten penalty points
A man found sleeping in the driving seat of a car with the side window open, was handed ten penalty points at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Friday.
Prosecuting counsel said on June 16 police received a report of a male in a parked car at Hillfoot Terrace, Castlecaulfield, and on arrival detected a smell of intoxicating liquor.
Fifty-six-year-old Brian Somerville, of Drumreany Gardens, Castlecaulfield, was fined £300 with a £15 offender’s levy for being in charge of the vehicle with excess alcohol.
The lawyer said that, when police managed to wake him, he provided a breath specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 122 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
A defence solicitor said Somerville had no previous convictions and cooperated fully with the police.
He explained the defendant lived at home and cared for his elderly parents.
The solicitor added that when he becomes depressed, he consumes alcohol and that is what happened on this particular day.