Motorist crashed into telegraph pole to avoid damaging car in front, Magherafelt court told

Connor Schwendner, aged 29, of no fixed address, Magherafelt, was also fined a total of £650 with a £15 offender's levy for careless driving, having no insurance, no driving licence, and possessing the drugs cannabis, pregablin and mirtazprine on November 16, 2022.

The court was told at approximately 8pm, police received a report of a road traffic collision at Magherafelt Road, Magherafelt, and on arrival found a stationary vehicle which had collided with a telegraph pole.

Prosecuting counsel said the defendant was spoken to and he told them that he had not given himself enough time to brake and decided to go into the grass rather than damage the vehicle in front of him.

The lawyer said police detected a strong smell of cannabis from the car and carried out a search of the vehicle and found 1.9 grams of cannabis, five mirtazapine and 14 pregablin tablets.

She said Schwendner took responsibility for the items in the car.

Defence solicitor Donal Heron explained that the defendant has been “sofa surfing since 2021” and used the car to sleep in.

Mr Heron said Schwendner had become homeless after his father died and has been unsuccessful in finding a house in the Maghera / Mid Ulster area.

He said the defendant wished to reside in the Mid Ulster area, as he has family living there that would give him stability.

Pleading for leniency, the solicitor pointed out that the defendant is receiving counselling for addiction and mental health issues.