Young Dromore driver warned

Jonathan Swain (24) from The Priory appeared before the local court, last Thursday, charged with careless driving.

Swain, an assistant manager for a fast food outlet was given six penalty points and fined £250 as well as a £15 offender’s levy. He was ordered to pay the fine within six weeks or face a week in prison.

A PPS prosecutor told the court that on the afternoon of June 12, an off duty police officer watched how a Type R Honda revved its engine loudly, screeched its tyres and weaved across the road a couple of times.

The officer reported what he had seen and Swain was later interviewed. Swain admitted being in the location but denied driving in the manner suggested. He claimed that it was impossible for his car to carry out such a manoeuvre due to its wheels.

Barrister Mr O’Hare told the court that Swain had a clean driving licence but that this was his first transgression in six years.

“This driving was far from flattering but it was a one-off,” his barrister said.

He said his client also took the charge very seriously.

District Judge Mr Copeland said that driving irresponsibly near a school could have ended in tragedy.

“What you need to know is that irresponsible show-off driving has consequences,” he said. As you posed with your smoking tyres and accelerated in a built up area, had you went out of control and mounted the footpath near a school you could have endangered pedestrians.

“You are very fortunate the prosecution reduced the charge to careless driving.”