Man found asleep across the front seats of a car in Dungannon was 'in a very drunk state', court is told
A 40-year-old Co Down man found lying asleep across the front seats of a car at Dungannon, has lost his licence for three years.
Keith Patrick McGeown from Wylies Gardens, Rathriland, was fined £300 with a £15 offender's levy for being in charge of the vehicle with excess alcohol in blood.
McGeown was also handed a two-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, for having bladed articles in his possession, namely knives and a hatchet.
Dungannon Magistrates Court was told that on April 14 last, police were on mobile patrol in the Dungannon area when they received a report from a member of the public about a suspicious car at Eglish Road.
Counsel prosecuting said McGeown was lying asleep across the front seats and police found it difficult to wake him.
She said he was smelling of intoxicating liquor and when he spoke his speech was slurred. He failed a preliminary test and was taken to Craigavon Hospital where he provided a blood speciman and was later charged with being in charge with excess alcohol.
In a search of the vehicle, police found knives and a hatchet and observed that both registration plates and VIN plate had been removed.
A defence lawyer said McGeown had been in a very drunk state and did not remove the plates from the vehicle. He said he was taken there by another person.
District Judge Francis Rafferty suggested the vehicle had been involved in a crash and “his friend” had decided to remove the plates.
The lawyer added McGeown had no criminal record until the start of this year when “matters began to escalate”.