Maghera teenager caught drink driving had made 'a very poor decision', court hears
A teenage motorist who made a “very poor decision” to drive home after watching a football match, has lost his licence for 14 months at Magherafelt Magistrates Court.
Police were on mobile patrol in Maghera on the night of June 13 this year when they noticed an Audi car which appeared to accelerate at Coleraine Road in the town, the court heard.
Brian Watters, aged 19, of Fallylea Road, Maghera, was also fined £200 with a £15 offender’s levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol in breath.
Prosecuting counsel told the court that at approximately 11pm, police spotted the car driving towards Maghera and followed it.
The lawyer said they activated lights and sirens to get it to stop and it did so near the town’s cinema at St Lurach’s Road.
She said the driver, who had a female passenger, identified himself and police noticed he had a can of lager in the console.
Counsel said Watters provided a preliminary breath specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 48 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
She added that he was arrested and taken to Antrim custody where he was cautioned for the offence.
District Judge Conor Heaney remarked that the evidential specimen was 74-76 mcgs at 12.30am.
A defence lawyer handed in a character reference to the court.
He said Watters had been with his girlfriend and had made a “very poor decision” to drive home.
The lawyer said he had been very cooperative with police and the loss of his licence will cause him problems getting to his work in the Royal Victoria Hospital.