Portadown motorist tried to make off from the scene after crashing into two parked cars, Craigavon court hears
After crashing into two parked cars, a Co Armagh man tried to make off from the scene, a court has heard.
Jacob Richardson, aged 22, from Derrycoose Road, Portadown appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.
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He pleaded guilty to a number of charges including failing to provide a specimen of breath of a preliminary breath test, failing to provide an evidential specimen of breath and driving while unfit through drink/drugs.
The court heard police were tasked to a road vehicle collision at Garvaghy Park, Portadown on November 2 this year where the driver was believed to be intoxicated ‘and attempting to make off’.
On arrival, officers spotted a grey VW Golf with frontal damage ‘having crashed into two parked vehicles’. Richardson was identified as the driver and police said there was a ‘strong smell of intoxicating liquor’ coming from him plus he was ‘unsteady on his feet’.
He failed to provide a breath test at the roadside and was arrested. When he arrived in custody, he also failed to provide an evidential sample and was ‘belligerent with police’.
A defence lawyer said Richardson was at a ‘golf event’ that evening and rather than getting a taxi home he made the ‘foolish’ decision to drive.
He added that Richardson’s father paid for the repairs of the other vehicles.
“He does have two previous entries for driving offences of this nature and understands the inevitability of today’s sentence,” said the lawyer.
He said Richardson is employed by Shelbourne Motors and also did part time deliveries but “that all ceases as of today”. The lawyer added the defendant's mother died in October this year.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said as there were a combination of offences he couldn’t just give Richardson the minimum driving ban of 12 months. For failing to provide the evidential sample he was banned from driving for 16 months; for driving while unfit he was given a 12 months ban and for failing to provide a preliminary sample he was given a six months ban –leaving a global ban of 16 months.
“I will take into account the tragic circumstances, the early plea and the impact this will have on Mr Richardson financially,” said the district judge, fining him £100 for each offence plus the £15 offender levy.