A Donaghcloney man has been fined £250 and landed with 10 penalty points after staggering out of an off-licence and getting into a van whilst three times the limit.
Kenneth Stewart, of Moygannon Road appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
The 63-year-old appeared before the court, unrepresented by a solicitor, pleading guilty to a charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in breath.
The Prosecution outlined that on July 1 of this year, police were on parade duties in Donaghcloney, when they were approached by a member of the public who informed them that a male had staggered out of an off-licence and had gotten into the driver’s seat of a vehicle.
Police approached the vehicle and noted that the defendant, who was in the drivers seat, had slurred speech and his keys were in the ignition. He failed a preliminary breath test and was taken to custody. The lower breath reading was 105 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath,
Deputy District Judge Greg McCourt said: “you were three times the legal limit for alcohol and driving.
“It’s a very high reading, but you weren’t driving which is the important thing, but why did you go and sit in your van at that time?”
Taking account of Stewart’s plea of guilty, and the fact that his previous conviction was a long time ago, Judge McCourt imposed a fine of £250, to be paid within ten weeks. Ten penalty points were also added to Stewart’s licence.
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