A Lithuanian national currently awaiting deportation appeared at court for a litany of driving offences.
Jevgenji Kapustin, 36, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday via video link from Maghaberry.
Kapustin is charged with drink driving, having no licence, MOT or insurance, making off from a petrol station without paying and breaching a deportation order.
The incident took place on November 4, last year, at around 4.10pm when the defendant drove off in a black Volvo from Lavery’s petrol station in Portadown without paying from £50 worth of fuel.
At around 4.30 pm a member of the public notified police that the car was seen on the Loughgall Road; it had damage to the bumper and was swerving all over the road.
Another report was lodged claiming the car was heading towards the Loughgall village.
Police stopped Kapustin on the Red Lion Road where he immediately admitted to being disqualified from driving and having no insurance.
A preliminary test on the roadside showed the defendant as having 132 mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
He was later tested again at Banbridge custody were the reading was 113mg per 100 ml.
Police then discovered that there were two bench warrants out for Kapustin and he was in breach of a deportation order served in June 2016.
When interviewed the next day the defendant denied stealing the car.
He claimed he had bought it from a Moldovan man near Dublin for €50 but had no proof of purchase.
Defense counsel claimed Kapustin had moved to this country 12 or 13 years ago with “good intentions” but his record reads otherwise.
Court heard that the defendant accepted he re-entered illegally and did not wish to return.
The Kapustin’s partner is currently awaiting information on her right to remain in the country.
The defence asked the Deputy District Judge Austin Kennedy to give the defendant a chance to “rebuild his life in his native country”.
Judge Kennedy stated that Kapustin’s record was “appalling” handing him to 18 months imprisonment, a £850 fine and a five-year driving ban.
