Spotted driving van erratically in carpark
A motorist reported driving a van erratically in the Tesco carpark at Beechvalley in Dungannon, has lost his licence for 12 months.
Marian Dumitrescu from Annagole, Dungannon, was also fined £175 with a £15 offender levy for driving while having consumed excess alcohol on the afternoon of June 14.
The court was told the 57-year-old was later spotted by police getting into the van and driving out of a parking space at the supermarket.
Prosecution counsel said police stopped the vehicle and on speaking to the defendant detected a strong smell of intoxicating liquor.
Dumitrescu provided a preliminary specimen of breath which he failed, and was cautioned and arrested at 3.25pm.
The defendant was taken to Dungannon custody suite where an evidential breath specimen obtained showed an alcohol reading of 69mgs, the lawyer said.
He added that the defendant had no record.
A defence lawyer said Dumitrescu had one son and has been living in Northern Ireland for the past five years.
He said he is a delivery worker and was currently engaged with his company to see if he could keep his job as his licence is essential to the work.
Imposing the penalties, District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked that it was “quite a high reading” but he would keep the disqualification to the minimum. He said he would also give the defendant credit for entering an early plea to the charge.