A man who was caught driving a van without MOT or insurance whilst acting as a pedlar has been handed a six month road ban.
Court heard the 53-year-old claimed that the van belonged to someone else who had dropped him off in the area.
However, an independent witness stated the he had been the driver and the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Michael Brown, of Hornbeam Walk in Dunmurry, was convicted in his absence of no vehicle test certificate, acting as a pedlar without a licence, using a vehicle without insurance and no licence at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on November 23, of 2019, at around 11am police received a report of a Ford Transit van acting suspiciously, going door to door in the Glencroft area of Magheralin.
Officers located the van in question parked up with this defendant outside a nearby property.
Brown told police he was offering to clean the gutterings of homes in the area, charging £30 per property.
The defendant denied owning the van but officers located the keys underneath another vehicle at the property.
Checks subsequently showed that the van in question did not have a valid MOT or insurance.
During interview, Brown claimed that the van belonged to someone else who had dropped him off in the area, however, an independent witness stated the defendant had been the driver and the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Defence barrister Conor Lunny stated he had no comments in way of mitigation given the absence of his client.
District Judge Bernie Kelly disqualified Brown from driving for a period of six months and ordered him to pay a fine of £450, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
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