Man obstructed police who were called to Broughshane
A Broughshane man who had been accused of being disorderly in the village has had the charge withdrawn by prosecutors and he has now pleaded guilty to a new charge of obstructing a police officer.
The 38-year-old committed an offence on March 13 this year.
On Thursday (October 29) Ballymena Magistrates Court was told that the PSNI had received a report of a suspected drink driver and the defendant initially refused to give a preliminary breath test.
When arrested, the defendant, Tony Simpson (38), of Braidwater Gardens in Broughshane, provided a sample which was below the legal limit.
The defendant was swearing and was "generally being obstructive towards police".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had 174 previous convictions "and a lot of it seems to be alcohol related".
A defence solicitor said that the defendant instructs he has been off alcohol for six weeks. Simpson was fined £200.