Former barber's BMW went 'airborne' after he drove off at speed and hit the railway tracks in Lurgan, Craigavon court hears

Isaque Duarte, aged 42, from Meadowbrook, Craigavon, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday pleading guilty to dangerous driving, possessing the class C drug pregabalin, and failing to provide a specimen in relation to driving with excess alcohol.

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At around midnight on Sunday, January 18, police were on mobile patrol in William Street, Lurgan when they saw a black BMW “make off at speed”.

“It was then observed travelling down the centre of the road, crossing the white lines at speed and then hit the railway lines, losing control careering into the opposite side of the road,” said a Prosecutor.

The defendant was the driver and known to police who said he was “clearly under the influence”. They had to “take control of him due to fear he would attempt to drive off”.

During a search they found suspected pregabalin, still in a sealed blister pack. Despite police asking the defendant for an evidential sample, Duarte refused.

“It’s an exceptionally poor piece of driving,” said Mr Thompson, adding there had been little offending in the last 10 years as Duarte went through drug rehabilitation and battled with his mental health.

He said his client was "reluctant to dwell too heavily on the issue of drug addiction” as he believes he has managed it.

Mr Thompson said there is a drug background. “But in actual fact the driving is so poor in this particular night because he’s developed an issue with alcohol that he has managed. He’s been in treatment for that."

He explained Duarte previously had "such a pernicious opiate addiction” his client “self-regulated” and got himself off the hard drugs, cocaine in particular, but alcohol became a feature.

He added that days before this incident his client referred himself back to “treatment services”.

Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor said: “I am told what happened was that he was making off at speed in the middle of the road and he hit the train crossing at high speed. The car went into the air and sideways across the road passed the entrance of Victoria Street.

"That must of occurred within a very short distance which implies he might have taken off at 60mph.” Mr Thompson said the judge was right to “infer there were problems with his driving”.

“What does that mean? He becomes airborne” said the judge. Mr Thompson agreed saying he “totally loses control”. “The driving is horrifically bad.”

"If any pedestrian been in the area they would have been wiped out,” said the judge, who asked if the defendant worked.

Mr Thompson said his client, who has been in the country for 22 years, ran a hair salon/barber’s shop for many years. “Even in the throes of an opiate addiction he ran his business,” said the barrister, adding Duarte hasn’t been working in a few years.

For dangerous driving the defendant was banned from driving for five years and fined £200 plus £15 Offender Levy. For the drug possession he was fined £200.

For failing to provide a specimen he was banned from driving for three years. In respect of all the charges he also sentenced Duarte to six months in jail suspended for two years.