Man made rash decision to drink and drive home

Christopher Platt (28), of Newbridge Park, Coleraine, was detectd at 3.15am on May 15, the weekend of the North West 200, at Coleraine Road, Coleraine Magistrates Court was told last Monday.

The defendant was driving a Ford Fiesta which colllided with a stationary car and he had an alcohol/breath reading of 91, with the legal limit being 35.

Defence solicitor Denise Gillan handed in two letters to the court on behalf of her client. She said he finished work at 10pm and went to Portstewart and was going to leave his car there and get a taxi home but after taking more to drink than normal he got separated from his friend and decided to drive home.

Ms Gillan said the offence was out of character and that ironically her client had just passed his motorbike test last month so he is not going to be able to get any use out of that because of a ban.

District Judge Liam McNally said it was a very high reading and banned the defendant from driving for 15 months and fined him £300.