Drink driver fledfrom police on tractor

Twenty year old John Lynch, Elmwood Terrace, Lurgan, was fined £100 on each charge of driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop, dangerous driving and not having insurance.

He was also banned from driving for two years on each offence.

For taking the vehicle without the owner’s consent he was put on probation for 12 months.

The court heard that on June 26 this year around 11pm police saw a John Deere tractor being driven at speed on the Old Portadown Road.

Police tried to stop it but the defendant continued to drive on towards Silverwood Drive. It went at speed over speed bumps and fishtailed from side to side.

Police were able to block the tractor in to force the defendant to stop.

His breath smelled of intoxicating liquor and a breath test gave a reading of 58.

Mr Peter Murphy, representing Lynch, said it was very fortunate no one was injured and thankfully police intervened quickly to bring the tractor to a stop.

He added that the defendant now accepted he had to change his ways.

A pre-sentence report indicated that Lynch may benefit from a period of probation.

District Judge, Mr Peter King, said thankfully nobody was hurt by this escapade, but purely by chance, and he had given serious consideration to a period of immediate custody.