Took his wife's car without '¨her permission

A 53-year-old man who has never held a driving licence took his wife's car without her consent to go into Lurgan to sign some documentation.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th May 2016, 05:26 BST
The dispute has led to a backlog of 800 cases at the Crown CourtThe dispute has led to a backlog of 800 cases at the Crown Court
The dispute has led to a backlog of 800 cases at the Crown Court

John McKee, Belfast Road, Lurgan, admitted driving without insurance on March 1 this year. He was fined £200 and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

For not having a licence he was fined £50 and he was given a conditional discharge for 12 months for taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner.

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The court heard that at approximately 3.45pm police, who knew McKee did not have a licence, saw him on CCTV drive from Wellington Street into Castle Lane.

They went to his home address and spoke to his wife who said he had taken the car without her consent. When interviewed the defendant said: “I was driving. I know I don’t have a licence. My wife didn’t know I had taken the car.”

A barrister representing McKee said he had relevant previous convictions but nothing in the last three years.

She explained that he had received a phone call to sign some documentation in town and took the car.

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The barrister added that McKee has never held a licence and has a medical condition which meant that he shouldn’t be driving at all. The car had since been sold on.

Deputy District Judge Gerry Trainor said the defendant just needed to stop driving.