A man caught drink driving on an e-scooter around Armagh has been handed fines totalling almost £500.
Yanis Hristov, of Drumadd Green in Armagh, appeared before the city’s Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Newry, on Tuesday, charged with driving when unfit through drink/drugs, no insurance, no driving licence, driving without care and attention, and failing to provide a specimen.
The court heard how the 31-year-old, at around 8.40pm on September 21, was travelling along the Lonsdale Road in Armagh when he was spotted by police.
Police activated their bodyworn cameras and watched as the driver exited the courthouse roundabout, before entering the Mall East on the wrong side of the road.
Hristov was then stopped by police and he confirmed he had no licence or insurance.
He also failed a preliminary breath test at the roadside and was arrested. He failed to provide a smaple in custody but made full admissions to the offences during police interview.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter said his client had entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.
“He has been living in this jurisdiction for three years now, with his wife. He had been at a friend’s house and consumed alcohol, unaware of the road traffic legislation around e-scooters, but obviously he is fully aware of that now and accepts his guilt.”
District Judge Laura Marshall fined Hristov a total of £450, along with a £15 offenders’ levy and gave him six months to pay it off.
He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
