Elderly driver took chest pains after Co Down man, who was almost three times the legal limit, bumped into the back of his car in Portadown, Craigavon court hears
An ambulance was called for an elderly driver who took chest pains after a Co Down man, who was almost three times over the drink driving limit, collided into his car at traffic lights, a court hears.
The 35-year-old, who appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, said: “I’ll take whatever I deserve. I just don’t want to go to prison.”
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Ben McCarthy of Hillview Terrace, Banbridge, pleaded guilty to a single charge of driving with excess alcohol.
Police received a report of a two-vehicle collision on July 18 this year at High Street, Portadown. The vehicles had collided at the traffic lights and were travelling towards Edenderry.
On arrival police observed the defendant in the passenger's seat of the Caddy van. He claimed it was his van and the driver ran off.
The NI Ambulance Service were called as the elderly driver of the other vehicle complained of shortness of breath and chest pain.
CCTV footage shows the other vehicle stopping at a red light with a Caddy van driving behind and driving into the rear of it “jumping it forward”.
A male, matching the defendant's description, exited the Caddy van and walked over to the driver of the other vehicle.
McCarthy’s evidential test was 103 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath. The legal alcohol limit for drivers in NI is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan pointed out to McCarthy, who was representing himself, there were a number of aggravating features including the high reading, that there was a collision and an elderly man was in the other car plus he claimed not to be the driver.
The defendant admitted to “skewing the police investigation”. He said: "I totally stand up to that."
McCarthy added that he isn't working which is why he couldn't afford a solicitor.
"I will take whatever I deserve. I just don't want to go to prison as I am struggling to see my daughter," he said.
District Judge Ranaghan said there would be no prison sentence. "You have turned up today and been nothing but courteous to the court."
He banned McCarthy from driving for 14 months and fined him £250 plus £15 Offender Levy.