A Portadown man who took a chance driving his pregnant partner home, without a licence or insurance, has been handed a 12-month ban.
The 21-year-old’s solicitor told court: “At the time his partner was five months pregnant and suffering from preeclampsia. She had begun bleeding at the grandmother’s house and could not drive back.”
Ben Craven, of West Street, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance and no driving licence at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Prosecution outlined that on July 15, at 3.30pm, police conducting speed detections on the Mahon Road, Portadown, signalled for a Seat Leon to stop.
It was noted by officers that the defendant had been in the driver seat, with a single female passenger.
The car pulled in but failed to stop and turned into a housing development. Police waited for a few minutes but the vehicle did not return.
Officers then entered the housing development and as they did they observed the car once more, this time with Craven in the passenger seat.
Police stopped the car and spoke to the defendant who initially denied driving the vehicle, however, he later admitted to driving without a licence or insurance.
Checks later revealed that the car belonged to the female passenger and she was the only person insured to drive the vehicle.
Defence solicitor Philip Reid stated: “He does have a previous for no insurance, the car belonged to his partner and on the day in question she had driven them both to his grandmother’s house.
“At the time his partner was five months pregnant and suffering from preeclampsia. She had begun bleeding at the grandmother’s house and could not drive back.”
He continued: “Mr Craven took the chance to drive as he just wanted to get her home.”
The defendant was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £400, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 10 weeks.
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