Magherafelt man took girlfriend's car and crashed into another motorist

Arnold Patrick Devlin (26), of Leckagh Walk, was also fined a total of £165 for careless driving, aggravated taking and causing vehicle damage, having no insurance and no licence on June 18 last year.

Prosecuting counsel said at 4.30pm the injured party was driving in slow moving traffic along the Moneymore Road.

He explained that as her vehicle came to a stop a car driven by the defendant collided with the rear of it, causing minor damage to the bumper.

He said Devlin gave the injured party his phone number and told her not to get the police involved as he would have her vehicle repaired.

The barrister said the injured party contacted the police the following day when Devlin failed to contact her.

He added that it transpired the vehicle the defendant was driving was owned by his girlfriend and she had not given him permission to drive it. He said minor damage had also been caused to it.

Admitting the offences Stephen Atherton, solicitor, said the incident had happened at time when the defendant was out of control. However, Mr Atherton added “a combination of factors” including having a job and becoming a father had “nipped the offending in the bud.”