A Portadown man has been fined and given three penalty points after overtaking police driving 60 mph whilst still a restricted driver.
The 25-year-old, of Drumcarn Gardens, pleaded guilty at Craigavon Magistrates’ to breaching a traffic sign and being a restricted driver exceeding the speed limit of 45 mph.
Court heard that on November 7, last year, police on the Northway, Craigavon, were overtaken by the defendant, driving a Volkswagen Jetta, displaying an ‘R’ plate.
Police followed him and kept a steady distance behind him at 60 mph.
They decided to pull the defendant over after a set of traffic lights.
The prosecution claimed that as these turned red the defendant approached but he did not stop or slow down.
The defendant had a record dating back to 2011 and already had two live points on his licence.
Defence counsel told the court the 25-year-old is a delivery driver and was running late for work on the date in question.
They added that he accepted this was wrong but that he denied driving through a red light, claiming it was just changing.
District Judge Bernie Kelly gave the defendant three penalty points on his licence and ordered him to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15.
