Newtownabbey motorist involved in Cookstown crash 'smelled of intoxicating liquor', court hears
A young Co Antrim motorist involved in a single vehicle collision at Cookstown, has been handed a 28-month driving disqualification for failing to provide specimens.
Kevin Campbell, aged 24, from Railway Halt, Newtownabbey, was also fined a total of £350 for failing to provide a preliminary breath test, and while driving with excess alcohol failed to provide a specimen of blood when required by police on December 7 last year.
Imposing the penalties, District Judge Francis Rafferty told Campbell that he had appeared in court on November 12 for similar matters and some four weeks later he was “back at it again”.
Dungannon Magistrates Court heard that on December 7 last, at 1.30 am, police received a collision report relating to a single vehicle at Orritor Road in Cookstown and on arrival found the defendant’s vehicle with substantial frontal damage and the airbags deployed.
Prosecuting counsel said on speaking to Campbell, officers noticed his speech was slurred and he was smelling of intoxicating liquor.
She said he refused to provide a preliminary test at the roadside and was arrested and taken to Antrim Area Hospital because the airbags had deployed, where he refused to provide a blood specimen.
A defence lawyer said the defendant appeared in court with his father.
He pointed out that Campbell does not have a prolific record and asked the court to take this into consideration.
He explained it was unfortunate Campbell did not follow through with the tests, as he had earlier cooperated with the police.
The lawyer said the defendant has a working background and asked the court to give him credit for his early plea.