A man who was detected with no insurance three times in the space of four months has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
The district judge commented that the 31-year-old was “someone who does not care about breaking the law”.
Americo Pascoal Carceres, of Dill Avenue, Lurgan pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and having no vehicle test certificate at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Court heard the defendant was disqualified from driving in December but his licence, which had not been handed in on that occasion, had now been presented.
District Judge Bernie Kelly stated: “This is someone who does not care about breaking the law, rules do not apply to him.”
Court heard that on August 22, at around 3.15pm, Carceres was detected by police driving a Renault Megane on the Northway, Portadown.
Checks showed the car did not have a valid insurance policy or MOT certificate.
The insurance had lapsed on June 4 due to non-payment and the MOT expired on April 25.
Police spoke to the defendant who made full admissions at the roadside.
The car was subsequently seized by the officers.
Defence counsel stated: “This offence predates Mr Carceres’ disqualification and he believes it is the final matter which he faces.
“He had a number of no insurance offences in close succession but after this detection, the car was seized.”
He added that the defendant now relied on lifts to work at Moy Park and asked that any sentence was kept to a minimum despite Carceres’ “deplorable” record.
District Judge Kelly stated: “Even today, at this late stage, he still hasn’t got it how serious a predicament he finds himself in.”
Court heard the defendant had told probation that community service would be difficult due to his work commitments and his weekly access to his child.
She continued: “In the period of four months, you were detected on three occasions with no insurance and he still does not know he can go to prison for this.”
District Judge Kelly warned Carceres: “You cannot repeatedly break the law. I have no choice after reading this pre-sentence report but to impose one sentence.”
The defendant was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for two years.
In addition, Carceres was ordered to pay a fine of £75, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within eight weeks.
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