A Lurgan man has been told to get a job, his provisional licence and book his theory test in the next two months if he wishes to drive in the near future.
A district judge told the 24-year-old: “I am going to give you an opportunity, you are going to go sign up with every agency in Craigavon, every agency in Portadown and you are going to get a job.”
Caelon Oliver Curry, 24, of Soye Gardens, pleaded guilty to a litany of driving offences at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
These included taking a vehicle without authority, aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, careless driving, driving with no insurance, driving without a licence and failing to stop, remain or report an accident.
Court heard that on November 3, police were alerted to a hit and run incident on North Circular Road, Lurgan, at around 9am.
This involved an unoccupied blue Hyundai being badly damaged by a silver Ford Focus which made off.
On November 4, members of the Fire Service contacted police about a vehicle on fire.
Officers arrived to find a silver Ford Focus with damage and blue paint marks consistent with the hit and run the previous day.
It was also noted that the Focus was missing a part which had been located at the scene.
Police spoke to the registered owner of the vehicle who stated that the defendant had been driving the car on the day in question.
Curry was arrested and taken to Lurgan Custody Suite where he was interviewed.
The defendant admitted to driving the Ford car and to colliding with the Hyundai. He confirmed to police that he did not have the owner’s permission to take the vehicle.
He claimed he hit the other vehicle after being distracted by someone who was waving at him.
Curry told police that he had panicked and driven on.
The defendant said that he had nothing to do with the vehicle fire and did not know who was involved.
District Judge Bernie Kelly stated: “He can’t drive. It amazes me the amount of people who just get behind the wheel and think that they can drive.”
She told Curry: “I am going to give you an opportunity, you are going to go sign up with every agency in Craigavon, every agency in Portadown and you are going to get a job.
“You are going to apply for your provisional licence and you are going to book your theory test.”
District Judge Kelly added: “If you’ve got all of that when you appear before this court again, I will deal with you in a way that you can keep your licence.”
Sentencing in the case was deferred until March 29 for Curry to obtain a job, a provisional licence and book his driving theory test.
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