Tractor driver had been at social event

The driver of a tractor lost his licence for 12 months at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on Wednesday for driving with excess alcohol.
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Jason Young (26), of Killyboggin Road, Magherafelt, was also fined £250 with a £15 offender levy in connection with the offence on the morning of March 5.

Prosecution counsel said police stopped the tractor at Rainey Street, Magherafelt, and Young provided a breath specimen which showed an alcohol reading of 49mgs.

She said that defendant later provided a blood specimen which revealed an alcoholic count of 97mls.

Admitting the offence on behalf of his client Donal Heron, solicitor, described it as a “morning after” offence in that the defendant had been at a social event the previous night and was on his way to a hot food outlet when the police stopped the tractor.

Mr Heron stressed that it was “a low reading” and asked the court to take that into consideration.

The judge gave the defendant permission to take part in the drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Meanwhile, Young was fined £200 for careless driving at Moneymore Road, Magherafelt, on November 19, 2018. The prosecutor told the court that the defendant drove into the path of another car close to a service station, causing a collision.

She said that Young had declined to give an account of what had happened, but footage from CCTV at the garage showed his car crossing into the path of the other vehicle.

Mr Heron said he had viewed the CCTV footage several times and contended it was not clear whether he had turned onto the road.

Nevertheless, he said the defendant accepted his guilt.

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