Driver was well over the drink drive limit

Stephen Robinson (60), whose address was given to the court as Jervis Street, Portadown, was fined £300 for driving with excess alcohol in his breath on February 16 this year.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that a road traffic collision took place in Jervis Street where a car had collided with three other vehicles causing damage.

Robinson was the offending driver and police could smell intoxicating liquor on his breath.

He failed a preliminary breath test with a reading of 101 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath and at Banbridge custody suite an evidential reading was 105.

The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Defence barrister David McKeown said his client had been driving all his adult life and had a clear record.

He added that it was out of character for him and he had taken too much drink.

District Judge Amanda Brady said the defendant could not expect the mandatory minimum ban with a reading that high.

But, she added, she would take into account that he had reached the age of 60 with a clear record.

The judge also certified him suitable for the drink driving course which on completion would reduce the length of his driving ban by a quarter.