Judge hands down driving ban and says Antrim town man is a 'danger to other road users'
A judge described an Antrim town man as a "danger to other road users" and banned him from driving for three years.
District Judge Nigel Broderick was speaking to Jed Hill (28), of Graingers Mill.
On March 12 the defendant was driving at Sevenmilestraight near Antrim when he crashed into the rear of another vehicle "at speed".
Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, was told "significant" damage was caused.
The defendant was unconscious and an ambulance and police were called. Police arrived and he was semi-conscious at that stage.
Cocaine was found in the vehicle. He was discharged from the hospital with "no injuries".
His charges were driving whilst disqualified; failing to provide a specimen; absence of insurance; possession of Class A drugs; aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent; and driving without due care and attention.
On December 5 last year police received a report of the defendant "tripping over his own feet". CCTV showed he had been driving in the area of Asda in Antrim.
A blood sample showed he had drugs in his system. He was charged with driving whilst disqualified; driving whilst unfit; and absence of insurance.
A defence barrister said it was "but by the grace of God" that the defendant was not injured in the Sevenmilestraight collision.
Hill had 48 previous convictions including several driving related matters.
The judge said a custodial sentence was warranted but that the defendant had already spent time on remand.
Judge Broderick handed down an Enhanced Combination Order of 18 months Probation and 100 hours of Community Service and a driving ban. He was also fined £100.