Banbridge motorist hid in wooded area 'as he feared for his own safety' after hitting three parked cars

Sheldon Savage, 25, of Ringsend Road, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report the accident, and dangerous driving,

The court heard that on Friday, November 1, 2024 police received a report that a vehicle had collided with three parked cars and a lamppost at Drumbeg Drive in Lisburn.

It was stated that the defendant left the scene and hid in a nearby wooded area.

When the police arrived he emerged from the wooded area and was arrested. When taken to Musgrave Custody Suite, the breath test gave an evidential reading of 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit being 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The defendant told police he had four beers before driving. He said he thought he had hit a kerb before hitting the three parked cars.

One witness said she was standing beside her vehicle and felt the impact. It was reported that she suffered bruising to her stomach and had to go to hospital.

A defence lawyer told the court: “He had gone out for a few drinks on a Friday afternoon. He doesn’t drink much.”

The court was also told that the defendant hid until the police arrived as he feared for his own safety.

"The neighbours came out and were angry,” the defence lawyer continued. “He did try to hide in the trees but when the police arrived he came out.”

On the charge of driving with excess alcohol in breath, District Judge Rosie Watters imposed a fine of £250, as well as an offender’s levy of £15.

She also disqualified the defendant from driving for 18 months and ordered him to sit an extended driving test at the end of the disqualification period.

On the charges of failing to stop and failing to report, Ms Watters imposed a fine of £50 on each charge and disqualified the defendant from driving for six months.

On the charge of dangerous driving, Ms Watters imposed a fine of £150 and disqualified the defendant from driving for 12 months,