A Lurgan man who failed to stop after driving into the rear of a taxi and made off the wrong way on a roundabout has been ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.
The 30-year-old’s solicitor told court his client had panicked before having a “crisis of conscience” the following day.
David Joseph Thompson, of Collingwood Drive, appeared for sentencing on driving without due care or attention, failing to stop, failing to remain and failing to report at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on May 1, at 11.50am, police received a report of a collision from a taxi driver.
He stated that he had been struck from behind by a van whilst waiting at the Drumbeg roundabout on the Tandragee Road, Craigavon.
The taxi driver told police the van had made off, mounting the kerb of the roundabout and travelling in the wrong direction, before exiting onto the Tullygally Road East.
He followed and subsequently located the van in nearby Meadowbrook, before attending Lurgan Police Station to lodge a report.
Police photographed the damage caused to both vehicles, with the owner of the van subsequently identified as the defendant.
The following day, Thompson contacted police to report he had hit a car the previous day and had not stopped.
Defence solicitor Conor Downey stated that his client “fully accepted” the offences; he told court Thompson had panicked before having a “crisis of conscience” the following day.
District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “He cannot keep his liberty and his licence…he was quite happy to drive off and leave the individual he hit sitting there. He didn’t even check to see if anyone was hurt.”
Thompson was ordered to complete 80 hours community service and pay a fine of £200, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
The defendant was also handed a six month disqualification from driving for the offences before the court.
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