A Belfast man who was fined after answering phone whilst driving asked by a judge “do you understand how many people you could have killed with a lorry?”.
Alexander Ronald Gorman, 45, of Beersbridge Road, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ charged with failing to produce his licence and driving whilst using a mobile phone.
The incident occurred on September 15, last year, on the Tandragee Road in Portadown at around 2.15pm when police spotted the defendant in the driver seat of a HGV lorry whilst on a mobile.
Police initially offered Gorman the fixed spot penalty but he was unable to produce his licence.
The defendant represented himself in court and pleaded guilty to both offences.
Gorman explained that the DVLA had his licence and he could only bring a driver’s card to court.
He explained the use of his phone saying he had received a call and pulled over into a layby to answer it.
District Judge Bernie Kelly asked Gorman “do you understand how many people you could have killed with a lorry?”.
The defendant only nodded to confirm.
Court heard that the defendant had no previous record in regards to driving offences.
Gorman was ordered to pay a fine of £175, along with the offender’s levy of £15 and received 3 penalty points on his licence.
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