A Lurgan man who already has “seven or eight” convictions for drink driving must wait until next month to learn his fate in relation to recent offences.
The 42-year-old’s solicitor told court that his client was due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates Court on April 27 following the preparation of a presentence report in relation to a similar matter.
John Patrick McComb, of New Street, pleaded guilty to being an unaccompanied L driver, not displaying L plates and driving with excess alcohol in urine at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that on December 5, at around midnight, police on patrol of Thomas Street in Portadown had their attention drawn to the nature in which a car was being driven.
They spoke with the driver, who identified himself as the defendant. He stated that he did not have his licence on him but checks showed he only held a provisional licence.
McComb was arrested and taken to Lurgan Police Station, where a a preliminary breath test was conducted resulting in a fail.
A subsequent urine sample was collected giving a reading of 177mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine – the limit being 107mg.
Court was told that the defendant had 197 previous convictions, “seven or eight” of which were for driving with excess alcohol.
Deputy District Judge Greg McCourt commented that this was “an extremely serious record”.
Defence solicitor Kevin McCamley stated that his client had “no excuse” but by way of explanation said this was a “spate of offending triggered by mental health issues”.
He told court that McComb was due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates on April 27 following the preparation of a presentence report in relation to a similar matter.
Deputy District Judge McCourt ordered an addendum report and adjourned the case until April 27 at Dungannon for sentencing alongside the other matter.
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