Suspended sentence and driving ban for Lisburn man
A Lisburn man has been given a suspended prison sentence and has been banned from the roads for driving whilst disqualified.
He appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court on Thursday May 28, 2026 to be sentenced for the driving offence. He was also charged with having no valid insurance for the vehicle.
The court heard that on November 18, 2025 at 4.10pm police stopped a silver Suzuki SK4 being driven on the Moira Road in Lisburn.
The driver identified himself as the defendant, Gary Willis (60), whose address was given as Huguenot Drive.
Checks showed he had been disqualified from driving on February 10, 2025 and did not have a valid insurance policy for the vehicle.
The police carried out a short interview and informed him he would be reported to the public prosecution service for the driving offences.
Defence told the court the defendant “pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity”.
He continued: “He made full admission at the roadside. This was nine months into his driving ban.”
Defence also stated that the defendant, who had a number of health issues, was also the carer for his wife.
District Judge Rosie Watters told the defendant she intended to “leave something hanging over his head”.
Ms Watters imposed a custodial sentence of four months on each of the charges before the court, which she suspended for a period of two years.
She also disqualified the defendant from driving for two years. During sentencing Ms Watters warned the defendant: “I don’t ever expect to see you back here again.”