Man caught drink driving in Larne on pre-Christmas night out
A man with an address in Ballygally was more than twice the legal limit when he was caught drink driving in Larne, a court has heard.
Thomas Gingles, aged 31, whose address was given as Grace Avenue in the coastal village, came to attention of police officers at around 3am on December 14 last year.
Ballymena Magistrates' Court was told on Thursday, January 8 that the defendant had pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his breath.
A prosecutor told the court that police officers saw the defendant standing in Larne. They noticed him holding a bottle of beer while speaking on a phone.
The defendant was in the vicinity of a vehicle at the time. Police officers spoke to him and he told them he was going to walk home.
Police waited in the area to confirm that and then they noticed him driving in the Riverdale area of the town and stopped him.
The court heard that the defendant was found to have an alcohol in breath reading of 71 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
The defendant had no record.
A defence solicitor told the court that the defendant, a farmer, was on a pre-Christmas night out on the date in question and that he had "made a foolish decision" to drive after "exhausting all avenues to try and get home".
Deputy District Judge Alan White banned the defendant from driving for 14 months and also imposed a fine of £300.