Man warned he could go to jail if he commits another offence

Neil Doran (27), Drumellan Walk, Moyraverty, who pleaded guilty, said he thought he was a named driver on his partner’s car.

He was stopped by a mobile police patrol on February 16 this year at Tullygally Road.

The defence solicitor said it had been a genuine mistake and the defendant didn’t realise the policy had been cancelled just two weeks beforehand.

He said he had had previous difficulties but had turned his life around. He worked as a bricklayer and had two young children to support.

District Judge Mervyn Bates noted that Doran had been disqualified for driving with no insurance in 2005 and 2008, and warned that if he came back before the court for the same offence again he would consider a custodial sentence.

He fined him £300 with a £15 offender’s levy.

Issuing him with seven penalty points, Judge Bates also warned the defendant that he has just two points short of disqualification.