Magherafelt taxi-driver had taken ‘enormous amount of alcohol’

The court heard how police stopped Harold Scott, 49, from Beechland Road, close to his home after they received reports of a drink driver between Castledawson and Magherafelt on the morning of September 29.

Scott stopped his car in the middle of a junction and had to lean on a gatepost for support. He subsequently provided a breath sample of 117mg of alcohol in 100mg of breath.

His solicitor told the court that his client had split from his partner of some years the day before and had “sought comfort in drink”. He told the court that Scott had continued drinking into the early hours.

He further described how the defendant had been driving for 29 years with a “relatively clear record” and had been a taxi driver for 18 years.

He said as a consequence of losing his licence he would lose his job and his income.

District Judge Alan White told the defendant that he would give him credit for his early plea but stated that to have been more than three times the limit he would have had to imbibe an “enormous amount of alcohol”.

He consequently handed down a driving ban of 16 months and a fine of £250 as well as an offender’s levy of £15. He also certified him for the drink driver’s course.