A Moy man who drove his girlfriend’s car whilst she was on holiday has been disqualified from driving for six months.
The 29-year-old, who only held a provisional licence, took his partner’s vehicle without her permission.
Mindaugas Milieska, of Ridgewood Manor, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance, not displaying ‘L’ plates, being an unaccompanied learner and taking a vehicle without authority at Armagh Magistrates’ on Tuesday.
Court heard the defendant was stopped at a police checkpoint on the Carrickaness Road, in the city, on March 4 at around 5.10pm.
Milieska produced to officers a provisional licence and told them he his girlfriend owned the BMW which he was driving.
Police noted that the car was not displaying ‘L’ plates and that the defendant was not accompanied.
When questioned, Milieska told officers that his girlfriend was on holiday and had no idea he had taken the vehicle.
It was heard the defendant arrived in Northern Ireland three years ago from his native Lithuania and had worked ever since.
Defence solicitor Gabriel Ingram explained on the day on question Milieska had been contacted by work colleagues who had asked for a lift home from work.
He added that the defendant had made the “stupid decision” to drive the car.
Mr Ingram conceded that there could be a concern of a pattern emerging given that Milieska had been caught on New Year’s Eve driving the same vehicle after being unable to get a taxi.
The defendant was handed a six-month driving ban.
Milieska was also ordered to pay a fine of £350, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 12 weeks.
