Jail sentence for man '˜who engaged with criminals' to procure a false driving license

Dainius Ablonskis, 28, from Ardglena Crescent, appeared at Dungannon Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

He was charged with driving a quad bike without a driving license, no insurance, driving without a protective helmet, and possessing a false identity document.

The offences came to light after police observed the defendant driving a quad bike without a helmet on August 13 on Mark Street, Dungannon.

When police stopped him, they discovered that he was not insured to drive the vehicle. At the time, he told police that he thought that if he was insured to drive his car, he would also be insured to drive the quad bike.

When police checked the identification number of the license he supplied, they discovered that it did not exist.

His defending solicitor told the court that Ablonskis was married with two children and had been living in Northern Ireland for nine years. He had no previous convictions.

District Judge John Meehan fined the defendant £300 for having no driving license, £250 for driving without insurance, and £100 for driving without protective headgear.

The judge said the false identity document was another matter entirely, and accused the defendant of engaging with and supporting criminal gangs in order to procure the document.