A man who was caught driving with a false Portuguese licence has been handed a three month disqualification and a suspended prison sentence.
Sentencing the 43-year-old, the deputy district judge stated: “The difficulty here is deliberately purchasing a false identity document is an extremely serious offence. That document can be used for a wide variety of purposes, not just driving.”
Gama Paulino De Sousa, of Clonavon Avenue in Portadown, pleaded guilty to making a false declaration to obtain insurance, possessing a false identity document, no driving licence and using a vehicle without insurance at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Prosecution outlined that at around 7.50pm on July 26, 2019, police stopped the defendant driving a Vauxhall Astra on Clonavon Avenue, Portadown.
De Sousa was asked to produce his driving documents and furnished police with a Portuguese licence.
Upon inspection, officers noted that the licence had several security features which would be expected missing and seized the document.
The defendant attended Armagh Police Station on August 16, and during interview he admitted to having paid €300 for the licence.
Addressing De Sousa, Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes stated: “The difficulty here is deliberately purchasing a false identity document is an extremely serious offence.
“That document can be used for a wide variety of purposes, not just driving.”
The defendant was sentenced to one month in prison suspended for 12 months and was disqualified from driving for three months.
In addition, De Sousa was also ordered to pay a fine of £300, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 26 weeks.
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