Drink driving Moneymore teenager bought car for £100

A MONEYMORE teenager who was spoken to by police for loudly revving the engine of his car in a residential area of the town, had bought the vehicle for £100 just a few days earlier, the local Magistrates Court has heard.

Mark Carson, 19, an engineer from Hammond Street, subsequently admitted charges of no insurance, driving with excess alcohol, not displaying ‘L’ plates, and driving unaccompanied, arising out of the incident, which occurred on April 22.

After disclosing to police that he did not have any insurance in place for the car, Carson also told officers he had been drinking.

A sample of blood provided by him showed an alcohol level of 91mg, 11mg in excess of the legal limit.

Carson’s lawyer acknowledged his client “should not have been on the road” without the proper documentation in place, explaining that the defendant’s insurance group was in the £1300 to £1400 category.

The lawyer said Carson had been to a friend’s house, where he had consumed two cans of beer, before the incident, which took place only 100 yards from the defendant’s home.

In his sentencing, District Judge, John Meehan, disqualified Carson from driving for 12 months.

Fines totalling £750 were also imposed in the case.

An offender’s levy of £15 was also handed down.