Co Tyrone motorist reported for 'erratic' driving by concerned member of the public had 'five or six pints' after finishing work in Cookstown, court hears

James Bell from Moygashel Park, Moygashel, was also fined £300 with a £15 offender’s levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol in breath at Main Street, Castlecaulfield, on January 30.

Prosecuting counsel said police received a call at approximately 7.05pm about a car being driven erratically in the vicinity of Lisnamonaghan Road.

He told the court that the reporting person said he had tried to take the keys from the driver but he retained them and drove on.

The lawyer said when police arrived they found the car parked at Main Street and spoke to the reporting person. The defendant was in a local hostelry but there were no glasses of alcohol near him.

Counsel said police later spoke to Bell outside the premises and detected a smell of intoxicating liquor from him. He provided a specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 96 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.

He added on January 31 the defendant gave a statement in which he stated he had finished work in Cookstown and had five or six pints in the bar before going out to move his car which was blocking a church entrance.

A defence solicitor said the defendant had booked a taxi and had decided to move the car from the entrance.

District Judge Francis Rafferty remarked the account given by the prosecution and the defendant were very different with no mention of erratic driving.