SPARKS FLEW!

The car was being driven by 19-year-old Stuart Allen, an agricultural contractor, of Kirk Road, Ballymoney, who was in the middle of a one month driving ban at the time of the detection by police on October 13 last year.

For driving whilst disqualified at Newel Road, Ballymoney, Allen was given a two months jail term, suspended for two years; banned from driving for a year and fined 200.

He was fined a further 200 for absence of insurance.

A defence lawyer told North Antrim Magistrates Court in Coleraine last Wednesday Allen had bought the car a few days beforehand and because the springs had been modified he was taking it to get it restored to its original settings.

The lawyer added that Allen had brought two friends along with him in the back of the car.

He continued: “Because the vehicle was so low it was practically scraping along the road and giving off sparks”.

That attracted the attention of police, he said.

District Judge Richard Wilson slammed the defendant for not having the “wit” to stay off the road for a single month.

Mr Wilson added: “Have you got a bicycle yet? You should get one. You were given a generous disposal of a one month disqualification so you could get mobile again but had not the wit to stay off the road.”

Mr Wilson added: “You do it again, you are going to jail.”