Man thought he was fit to drive car

Andrew James McClean, Banbridge Road, Waringstown, was banned from driving for 12 months last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court.

He was also fined £300 for driving with excess alcohol and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy.

The court heard that at 12.05am on December 21 McClean was stopped while driving on the Moneyslane Road, Banbridge.

His breath smelled of alcohol and after he failed the roadside test an evidential test in Banbridge custody suite gave a reading of 47.

A solicitor representing McClean said he and a friend had been visiting in Newcastle with the intention of staying the night.

However, she added, his friend got a telephone call which meant he had to go back to Waringstown.

The solicitor said McClean had a couple of glasses of alcopop earlier in the night and misjudged the situation. He thought he was fit to drive.