Man spotted driving erratically in Craigavon seemed unaware of the police with blue lights behind him, a court hears
Police had to pull alongside a driver with their blue lights on as he seemed unaware of their presence behind him, a court in Craigavon heard.
The 39-year-old faced a number of charges including driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
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Nilton Cesar Alexio Lima, from Drumellan Park, Craigavon, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, no driving licence, no insurance, taking a vehicle without authority and failing to wear a seat belt on June 6 this year.
Separately he also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a window on March 21 this year.
The court heard police were on mobile patrol in the Craigavon area on June 6 this year, when they spotted the defendant driving along Lake Road at around 12.20am.
The vehicle was slowing down then speeding up before turning into Drumgor Road. Police followed and found the defendant’s driving to be ‘erratic’.
"The vehicle was swerving over the white lines and braking when unnecessary,” a prosecutor said.
Despite police activating blue lights signally for the vehicle to stop, the driver seemed ‘unaware’ they were behind him. Police had to drive alongside him before he saw them.
Checks showed he had no insurance nor a UK licence. They also smelt intoxicating liquor on his breath.
Lima failed a preliminary breath test with an evidential reading of 71 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath.
It transpired that a relative hadn’t given Lima permission to drive her car.
Lima’s barrister, Mr Gavyn Cairns, described his client’s actions as “foolhardy in the extreme”.
He said his client is working, however had been leading an “almost rudderless existence” since he split up with his wife.
Mr Cairns revealed his client had got a new job which accommodated his wish to work nights so he could complete his Community Service received after a previous conviction.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan banned Lima from driving for 16 months for the driving with excess offence while for having no driving licence or insurance he was given a six months concurrent ban on each. For taking and driving away he was given a one-year driving ban, also concurrent.
For the seat belt offence he was given a concurrent ban of six months. For each of the offences he was fined £75 – a total of £375 plus £15 offender levy.
A prosecutor told the court that police received a report from the injured party on March 21 this year at around 6.30am. She claimed the defendant had entered her home by smashing a bathroom window.
"She begged him to leave. He didn’t and stayed for around two hours. Eventually he left and she called police,” said the prosecutor.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he recalled a case involving the defendant and the same victim in April this year. He said he would “mirror” the sentence he gave Lima in April.
The offence of criminal damage with the domestic aggravator attached was dealt with by a Probation Order for one year. It will run alongside the court order in April.
The district judge told the defendant to “be very careful around his behaviour” with his ex-wife.