A Portadown man who drove over the limit following a row with his girlfriend has been slapped with a £200 fine and disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Michael Douglas, 34, of Ballyoran Park, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, charged with driving with excess alcohol in breath.
The court heard that on July 23, police observed a vehicle on the Loughgall Road in Portadown. They had cause to stop the vehicle on Charles Street, where the driver was identified as the defendant.
“The usual observations were made as to his presentation” and a preliminary breath test was carried out.
The defendant subsequently failed the test and was arrested and taken to custody. The lower evidential reading was 62 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes per 100ml in breath.
Douglas’s defence solicitor, Richard Monteith, commented that his client had “cooperated with police immediately”.
He added that Douglas had had a row with his girlfriend at the time, but foolishly decided to drive home.
Douglas, who has been driving since 2015, “apologises to the court for something that’s going to cause him severe inconvenience for the next period of time”, Monteith added.
Deputy District Judge Greg McCourt remarked: “You were foolish doing this but I give you full credit for the early plea of guilty” and imposed a fine of £200, giving 12 weeks to pay.
Judge McCourt also disqualified Douglas from driving for 12 months, until re-tested.
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