A learner driver caught travelling at 98mph along the motorway outside Lurgan said he was “test driving the car for a friend”.
Samuel Crawford, with an address listed in Westland Way, Belfast, was detected speeding by police on the M1 motorway outside Lurgan on July 4, 2026.
The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to all charges arising from the incident before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court including having no insurance, being a learner driver on the motorway, being unaccompanied, failing to wear a seatbelt, exceeding 45mph and having no ‘L’ plates displayed.
The court heard from the prosecution that Crawford did have a “significant record” in relation to driving offences, albeit, the most recent entry was from 2017.
Outlining the facts, the prosecution said on July 4, 2026 at 8.30am police were carrying out speed checks on the M1 at Lurgan.
The detected Crawford at 98mph heading towards Moira. When stopped, it was found that he was wearing his seatbelt clipped in behind him, was a learner driver and that he had noone accompanying him, had no ‘L’ plates and was not named on the insurance.
When questioned, he told police he was “test driving it for a friend” and that he “believed ‘L’ drivers were covered for test drives”.
Defence counsel for Crawford conceded their client did have “quite a concerning record” but said in his own words the offence was “one of stupidity”.
They said while unemployed currently, Crawford did wish to begin using his skills in carpentry to gain employment.
Speaking to Crawford directly, Judge Ranaghan said: “Your record is generally a very bad one. It’s very poor around driving, primarily no insurance, but there is a gap in offending.”
The judge agreed to stay his hand with immediate custody, despite the threshold being passed.
Crawford was handed a four month custodial sentence suspended for 12 months for the offence of driving without insurance. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
For driving on the motorway as a learner driver he was fined £100 and then £50 on each additional matter bringing the total fine to £350.
He was also ordered to pay a £15 offenders’ levy and was granted 16 weeks’ time to pay.
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