Portadown man spotted staggering out of an off licence, getting into car and driving off

Robert Edward Joseph Taylor, from Selshion Parade, Portadown, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs, having no driving licence, no insurance, being an unaccompanied L driver and failing to display L plates.

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Taylor’s solicitor Mr Joe McDonald of Walker McDonald, Portadown said his client pleaded guilty to all the charges.

The court heard that on May 15 this year at 9.46pm, police received a report from a woman who had spotted a man ‘staggering out’ of the Orchard Wine Lodge Off Licence on the Loughgall Road, Portadown. Police were told the man then got into a vehicle and drove off into the Loughgall Road.

"The reporting person suspected the male to be under the influence of alcohol,” said the prosecutor. Police checks confirmed the registration belonged to and was insured to Taylor.

At 11.50pm, police attended Taylor’s home address and saw the vehicle outside. Police observed the defendant as ‘under the influence of alcohol’ and he was arrested. At Banbridge custody suite, the lower evidential reading was 98 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath.

During an interview with police the following morning, Taylor said he had been drinking from the lunchtime that day however claimed he did not drive his vehicle nor attend the Orchard Wine Lodge at the time of the alleged incident.

He claimed his neighbours had gone earlier that afternoon and bought him alcohol. Police went to the off licence, viewed CCTV footage and the defendant can be seen driving into the car park of the off sales. This footage was put to the defendant.

He also revealed he didn’t hold a full UK drivers licence – just a Provisional licence. He also then gave full admissions to the offences before the court.

Taylor’s solicitor said his client, who has a girlfriend, has been unemployed for a number of years and suffers from depression.

“He lived in Canada for 18 years and had a full driving licence there,” said Mr McDonald, adding that Taylor returned to this jurisdiction 12 years ago.

Mr McDonald explained that Taylor’s father passed away about a year-and-a-half ago and inherited his father’s car. The solicitor said Taylor planned on learning to drive and passing his test. He took out insurance on the car with his girlfriend as the named driver.

The solicitor said Taylor has a drinking problem, going for months without drinking and then drinking when something ‘triggers him’.

Mr McDonald said Taylor had denied driving his car to the off licence as he knew he shouldn’t have done so. He added that Taylor no longer has the car which has been handed over to his sister.

For driving whilst unfit, District Judge Michael Ranaghan banned Taylor from driving for 18 months. For each of the other four charges he was given a concurrent six months driving ban. He also fined Taylor £75 for each offence, making a total of £375 fine plus the offender levy of £15.