Judge deems drink driving case 'one of the worst ever'

Stephen Christopher Lipsett (20) of Ecclesville Road, Fintona appeared at North Antrim Magistrates' Court last Wednesday to answer the charges of failing to stop for police, driving whilst unfit, dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

The charge relate to an incident in Portrush on November 19 last year.

The court heard that police officers approached the defendant, who was sitting in the driver's seat of his friend's car outside a nightclub in the town.

Officers could smell alcohol off Lipsett, but before they could carry out their duty the defendant sped off in the car in the direction of Coleraine.

A police car had been tasked from Coleraine and witnessed the Seat Toledo car Lipsett was driving straddling the middle line of the Coleraine Road, forcing the police car to take evasive action as it drove past them.

The defendant did a lap of the roundabout at the top of the Coleraine Road before heading back towards Portrush. The first police car had set up a vehicle check point (VCP) along the road in a bid to stop him.

However on seeing the VCP Lipsett performed a u-turn in the middle of the road and headed back in the direction of Coleraine again.

A second police car had set up a another VCP further up the road towards Coleraine, but again the defendant failed to stop and used the grass verge to manoeuvre past the stationary police car.

Once again the officers gave chase as Lipsett drove on to Coleraine towards Castleroe at speeds in excess of 80mph.

Lipsett and the car were eventually found in a field off the Glenleary Road after he had lost control of the vehicle.

He was arrested and taken to Coleraine Police Station where he was found to be just over twice the legal alcohol limit.

Solicitor Francis Rafferty said Lipsett was sitting in the car when a member of staff from the nightclub asked him to move it as it was causing an obstruction.

It was then he became noticeable to the police and he panicked and tried to avoid detection, but his judgement was clouded by alcohol.

District Judge, Richard Wilson warned Lipsett about the seriousness of his actions on the night in question.

"This story is one of the worst I have ever been faced with," he said. "There was a total lack of concern for other road users and it is a miracle no one was killed or seriously injured."

District Judge Wilson sentenced Lipsett to four months in prison, suspended for three years, and fined him 1,300.

Lipsett was also disqualified from driving for three years and warned that he will go straight to jail if he drives at any time during that period.