Magherafelt man was involved in two road traffic collisions within a few weeks, court hears
A district judge has ordered a pre-sentence report in the case of a Magherafelt man who was involved in two collisions within two weeks of each other.
Kyle John Christopher Hawthorne, aged 36, from Killowen Drive in the town, admitted charges of failing to provide a specimen while driving with excess alcohol, and driving while having consumed excess alcohol in March last year.
Prosecuting counsel told Magherafelt Magistrates Court that on the evening of March 8, police attended the M22 southbound at Randalstown where a van had come off the carriageway and was in bush at the side of the motorway.
He said they spoke to the defendant and arrested him on suspicion of drink-driving, but he refused to provide a specimen.
Continuing, the prosecutor said on March 23, police received a report of a two-vehicle collision at Rainey Street in Magherafelt which was obsructing the roadway.
Counsel said the keys had been taken from Hawthorne who later provided a breath specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 73 mcgs per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
A defence lawyer explained the defendant “has issues with alcohol” but has no previous record for drink-driving offences.
He pointed out Hawthorne had been engaging with the local community addiction team with success for over two years.
Imposing an interim driving disqualification, District Judge Conor Heaney remarked there appeared to be underlying issues and adjourned the matter until April 22 for a short pre-sentence report.
He told the defendant to make sure he engaged with the Probation Service.