A man caught drink driving for the second time in 10 years has been given a three-year disqualification.
Court heard the 38-year-old, who is originally from Poland, was first detected in 2011.
Grzegorz Korzeniecki, 38, of Killuney Drive, Armagh pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on February 16, police stopped the defendant driving an Audi A6 on the Newry Road, Armagh.
Officers spoke to Korzeniecki. They noted his eyes were glazed, his speech slurred and they detected a strong smell of intoxicating liquor.
A preliminary breath test was conducted at the roadside which resulted in a fail.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to Lurgan Custody Suite where an evidential sample of breath gave a reading of 69mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
Court heard that this was Korzeniecki’s second drink driving offence, the first being in 2011.
Defence counsel stated: “This man is a Polish national. He has lived in the jurisdiction for a number of years and has worked through his entire time here.
“This detection was early in the morning. He had gone to visit a friend, they ended up drinking a few beers and then they had some spirits.”
He continued: “He then decided to go home; he did try to engage a taxi but he was told it would take a number of hours.
“He very foolishly decided to take a chance to travel the distance home which was less than three miles.”
District Judge Peter Magill stated: “You are given full credit for your plea of guilty but the problem for you is you already have a conviction in 2011.
“This, therefore, falls within the second within 10 years which carries a minimum of three years disqualification.”
Korzeniecki was handed a three-year driving ban and was ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 20 weeks.
The defendant was certified for the drink driving course but was warned he would still have to sit and pass his test upon completing the course.
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